Drug user gets life for savage knife murder

A KILLER who grunted with pleasure as he plunged a knife into the chest of a man screaming for mercy has been jailed for life.

Victim Michael Gardner, 33, fled from the 11th floor of a block of flats in Sighthill with "a fountain of blood" pouring from his naked torso, before collapsing dead.

Bodybuilder Craig Bathgate, 44, who was under the influence of steroids and amphetamine reportedly said: "That's him done," before calmly picking up his can of lager and leaving Medwin House North.

Ordering him to serve at least 15 years before he can apply for parole, judge Colin MacAulay QC yesterday told Bathgate: "You were found guilty of having carried out a savage and brutal murder."

The trial at the High Court in Edinburgh heard how last December 4, Bathgate visited his friends Simon Wallace, 34, and Wallace's girlfriend, Tina Allwood, 19. They were described as drug abusers.

Handyman Mr Gardner, of Clovenstone Drive, Edinburgh, was their "wholesaler", the court heard, and they owed him money.

He called on them at the flat, and as he was leaving he was followed by Bathgate and the attack took place.