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By Jack Ewing
Main image credit – Stephen Sweeney
The High Court in Glasgow has heard closing statements in the trial of John Thomas and Andrew Mcleod, who are accused of murdering 47 year old John Dalziel.
39-year old John Thomas and 58-year old Andrew McLeod allegedly assaulted John Dalziel in Paisley, Renfrewshire on May 6 2021.
The pair are accused of inflicting blunt force trauma to Mr Dalziel’s head, and slashing Mr Dalziel’s neck with a broken plate.
Prosecutor Greg Farrell asked the jury to “apply common sense” and convict both of the accused.
“Given the nature and number of injuries the jury can be satisfied that this was an act of murder,” Mr Farrell told the court. He said, John Thomas’s fingerprint was found on the broken plate, and John Dalziel ‘s blood was found on Andrew Mcleod’s hands and jacket.
The Jury heard that a witness saw flames coming from Mr Dalziel’s home and saw John Thomas leaving the property. Another witness heard John Thomas leaving the flat shouting back to Mr Dalziel “John you are on your own and ‘ I f***ing hate junkies”.’
The court heard a neighbour then went into the house and found John Dalziel lying face down on the ‘blood-stained’ living room carpet, and Andrew McLeod was slumped on the living room couch .
The Prosecutor said that Andrew McLeod, “showed belligerent aggression towards those trying to help him” after the emergency services and police arrived at the scene. The blood stained plate allegedly used in the incident was found underneath where Mr McLeod was sitting.
A post-mortem found that several attempts were made to slash Mr Dalziel’s neck with one causing a serious injury. Mr Dalziel was also found to have bruises across his face.
The defence KC for John Thomas, Brian McConnachie told the jury there was not a shred of evidence which supports the idea that these two men were acting together.
He also argued John Thomas’s fingerprint which was found on the broken plate were not as significant as the prosecution was alleging, as Mr Thomas sometimes lives at the address.
Mr McConnachie also highlighted in his closing statement evidence against Andrew McLeod, the co-accused in the case.
He said Andrew Mcleod ‘s blue puffer jacket, was found to have Mr Dalziel’s blood all over it. Mr McConnachie argued that Mr McLeod offered no explanation about how the blood ended up on his coat.
Defence KC for Andrew McLeod, Thomas Ross, told the jury there was no evidence that Andrew Mcleod had worn the jacket inside the house , and said the jacket could have been lying at the feet of Mr Dalziel when he was assaulted.
He said John Thomas was not to be trusted, and the prosecution argument that the two men were working together was irrational. Mr Ross also argued that it “flies in the face of logic” that both men could have acted together.
Mr Ross questioned why John Thomas left the flat whilst Mr Dalziel was lying seriously injured on the floor.
“This is someone who is dishonest. Why did he do all this if he was an innocent bystander? ” Mr Ross told the court, turning to look at Mr Thomas in the dock as he said it.
Mr Ross also accused John Thomas of giving an “Oscar winning performance” while giving his police statement, contrasting his caring demeanour in the police interview with leaving the scene at the time.
Judge Lord Arthurson told the jury he would address them before sending them out to consider the case .
