A young Scots thug who had been out celebrating his 18th birthday brutally murdered a stranger in an unprovoked attack.
Brian McKillop pounced on James Britton as the 51 year-old was heading home in Rutherglen, South Lanarkshire last October 20. The victim was repeatedly kicked and stamped upon until he was unconscious.
James - nicknamed Moose by friends - suffered horrific injuries and died in hospital around a fortnight later. McKillop was arrested at the scene and made a string of outbursts including: "Murder, man - I hope he is dead, but I hope he is alright at the same time."
The first offender today pled guilty to murder during a hearing at the High Court in Glasgow. He faces a life sentence and will learn the minimum he will spend behind bars next month.
Prosecutor Kath Harper told how McKillop had spent that day with family and friends at a local pub celebrating his birthday. He later sent his sister a message at 11.21pm that night stating he was now home and "bored".
But, around 30 minutes later, he was out in Farmeloan Road, Rutherglen assaulting innocent James. Miss Harper: "James Britton was kicked and stamped upon by McKillop in an apparently unprovoked and random attack."
A number of horrified motorists clocked what was happening. One shouted to her husband: "Oh my God, he's getting a kicking."
McKillop, also of Rutherglen, was seen standing over his stricken victim who was on the ground. He was further spotted rifling through James' plastic bag.
The couple got out to help James as police arrived to hold McKillop. Other comments the thug made at the scene included: "I am getting seven years for this. I've wasted half my life.
"I'll be honest when they interview me. No point in lying.
"Should have just let him walk on. Aye, I stamped on his head." He was also found with boxes of prescribed medication in the name of his victim.
James was rushed to hospital - he had multiple skull and rib fractures, bleeding to the brain as well as injuries to his neck and lung. He tragically never recovered and passed away on November 4 2021.
The court heard the victim's blood was found on McKillop's shoes and jeans. It emerged there was also CCTV of the attack occurring.
Ronnie Renucci KC, defending, said: "Brian McKillop has no explanation for his conduct that night. "The only one he could offer is that it had been his birthday, he had been drinking excessively and he believes he may have taken some street Valium.
"He has memory of a confrontation and assaulting the man, but not of the actual details." The defence advocate said McKillop wanted to apologise for his "outrageous" actions.
Lord Beckett remanded him in custody and deferred sentencing for reports until November 14 in Edinburgh. After his death, friends paid a number of tributes to James online.
One stated: "Always smiling and you loved a laugh at your own jokes. A friend to many in Cambuslang and Rutherglen."
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