A former music student guilty of stabbing a friend to death has been jailed for eight years.
Francis McConnachie fatally attacked friend Thomas O’Rourke, 21, after a row between the pair in their hometown of Wishaw, Lanarkshire, on February 24 2023.
The 36-year-old had denied murdering the Celtic supporter, who was knifed four times. He had claimed self defence.
McConnachie was yesterday sentenced by judge Lord Arthurson at the High Court in Glasgow.
He had previously been convicted of the reduced charge of culpable homicide while acting under provocation following a trial.
Jurors heard how pair had ended up in McConnachie’s home that day after the killer returned from walking his father’s dog.
He described the atmosphere as initially ‘good’ between them. But a row then broke out leading to McConnachie ordering his friend to leave.
The killer claimed Mr O’Rourke went on to make threats to him and his brother before he left.
Francis McConnachie fatally attacked friend Thomas O’Rourke (pictured), 21, after a row between the pair
The 36-year-old had denied murdering O’Rourke and claimed self defence. Pictured: Coldstream Crescent, Wishaw, Lanarkshire
McConnachie said: ‘I basically went after him.’
The court heard the pair had a ‘stand-up fight’ out in the street before McConnachie was pulled away. Both then returned to their homes.
However, McConnachie said he heard the victim back outside shouting and left his property again.
He claimed Mr O’Rourke was armed with a knife. McConnachie said he told him: ‘You do not stab your pals.’
The killer stated he was ‘in disbelief’, but he managed to grab hold of him.
The court heard there was a ‘big struggle’ with both men on the ground as McConnachie apparently tried to disarm him.
It was during this the victim was fatally struck, but McConnachie said: ‘I do not know how it happened.’
Richard Goddard, defending, yesterday stated the killing had occurred after an initial ‘relatively minor’ altercation between the pair.
The KC said McConnachie had ‘always accepted responsibility’ for the death and had shown remorse for what happened.
Sentencing, Lord Arthurson said he had read emotional impact statements from those close to the victim.
The judge told McConnachie: ‘You should be under no illusion of the scale of the dreadful loss sustained by Mr O’Rourke’s family occasioned by your fatal attack.’