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Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh Live
National
John Gillespie

West Lothian man sentenced to 17 years in prison after murdering step-dad with hammer

A West Lothian man who brutally murdered his step dad in a vicious hammer attack has been jailed for at least 17 years.

33-year-old Dean Martin killed his step-dad Keith Allan by striking him multiple times on the head and body with a hammer in 2021.

He was sentenced to 17 years in prison at the High Court in Glasgow on Thursday, June 16.

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Dean attacked Keith at Falside Crescent in Bathgate on the evening on July 5, 2021 at a property they both shared in the West Lothian town.

It is believed that two children were in the household as the attack happened.

Dean struck Keith multiple times with the hammer before Keith made his way onto the street to plead for help from the neighbours, drenched in blood.

A neighbour managed to capture parts of the incident on her phone as Dean continued the attack on the doorstep of the property. Striking Keith at least 15 times in the attack.

As Emergency Services attended, he was pronounced dead at the scene.

It is believed that Dean had formed the belief that Keith was responsible for Dean’s mother taking her own life just weeks before the attack.

Detective Chief Inspector Bryan Burns said: “This was a deliberate and particularly brutal attack.

“Our thoughts are very much with Keith Allan’s family who at last have justice for what happened and I hope the sentence brings them some comfort.”

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