Scots murderer who stabbed vulnerable man in unprovoked frenzied attack jailed for life

A murderer who repeatedly stabbed a vulnerable man after he "lost the plot" has been given a life sentence.

John Blyth, 47, launched the assault on Paul Smith, 56, armed with a kitchen knife in his flat in Edinburgh on January 6, 2021. Mr Smith, who had serious underlying medical problems, died four days later at St John's Hospital, in Livingston, in West Lothian.

Blyth had denied murdering his friend who he lived with at the time during a trial and lodged a special defence of self defence. But, he was found guilty of committing the murder by a majority verdict of the jury by repeatedly striking him on the head and neck with the knife.

Judge Lord Harrower ordered Blyth to be locked up for a minimum of 13 years at the High Court in Glasgow.

He said: "You state in your background report that you are sorry that he died but you show no remorse. This is consistent with your position at trial that you acted in self defence.

"You denied inflicting the wound to his neck and claim that you slashed his shoulder. You said that he was going to die imminently as if that is a mitigating factor. You knew that he was in poor health and this can be regarded as an aggravating factor.

"Members of his family have provided a moving statement. The sentence can't make good on the family's loss but can make good for the compassion."

The court heard that Blyth slashed his victim in the face and stabbed him in the neck during the assault. Advocate depute Chris McKenna said it was the Crown's case that had "triggered a chain of events" that led to the death of Mr Smith who was vulnerable due to the condition of his health.

Mr Smith told police that he had been at Blyth's home at Craigmillar Court when he lost the plot and attacked him with a baseball bat and a knife. He also said to a doctor that he was with a friend when an argument occurred and Blyth "lost it" and stabbed him with a kitchen knife.

Mr McKenna said the account that he gave was of an unprovoked, violent attack.

Police went to the flat and forced entry and arrested Blyth who was initially charged with attempted murder.

A woman who was living in a downstairs flat said she heard Blyth's voice in the early hours of the morning sounding irate and erratic, the court heard.

The court heard that Mr Smith suffered from a rare blood disease from 2013. His brain was being served by one blood vessel and that his cardiovascular state was “on a knife edge.”

As a result of the stress, trauma and treatment, it would result in the reduction of the blood supply to his brain. Mr Smith’s date deteriorated and he died.

Mr McKenna told the court that Mr Smith is survived by a sister and had a daughter who was aged 11 at the time of his death. Blyth's record includes convictions for assault.

Michael Meehan KC, defending, told the sentencing: “When Mr Smith was waiting to go in the life [after the attack] and left no one was pursuing him.

“This was a position where he was able to help himself and seek medical assistance - he was able to leave the property.

“What is apparent is there is a lack of empathy in his background report.”

Speaking after the sentencing, Detective Inspector Keith Taylor said: “This was a brutal, senseless attack and John Blyth will now face the consequences of his actions.

“Whilst this sentencing cannot change what John Blyth did to Paul, I hope that it brings some kind of closure for Paul’s family and friends. I would also like to thank Paul’s family for their support throughout the investigation, as well as commend them for their strength and dignity throughout this ordeal.”

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