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Edinburgh murderer given life sentence after he 'lost the plot' and stabbed friend

Document Cited in Related
Vincent
Published date12 April 2024
AuthorConnor Gordon
Publication titleEdinburghLive (Scotland)
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.

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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...

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