Men jailed for garden fork murder of Thomas Lamb in Edinburgh

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-33654498

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Three men have each been jailed for at least 20 years for the murder of man with a garden fork and a knife.

James Watson, 27, his brother Paul, 29, and their friend Gary Sim, 21, had denied killing Thomas Lamb, 46, in a street in Edinburgh in September.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard that the men had kicked and jumped on Mr Lamb's head before repeatedly striking him on the body with the weapons.

All three men were given life sentences and will serve a minimum of 20 years.

The court heard that the men had gone to the Tor pub in Restalrig Road on 20 September last year to celebrate James Watson's release from a five-year sentence.

He had been jailed for armed robbery and assault.

In the pub Sim attacked Mr Lamb and the three men later confronted the victim again in the street at Restalrig Circus.

'Despicable attack'

Witness Sandra Swannie, 53, told the court she heard one of the attackers say: "Will I finish him off?"

Prosecutors have been unable to establish a motive for the crime.

Passing sentence, judge Lord McEwan said: "This was a wanton, despicable and disgraceful attack in the streets of Edinburgh which was undoubtedly fuelled by alcohol.

"None of you are of good character. Sim, you have a deplorable record.

"The penalty is fixed by law to be life. As I cannot distinguish between any of you, I shall impose the punishment part of the sentence to be 20 years."

The men were found guilty of murder following a three-week trial.

Ms Swannie told the court that after hearing people shouting outside her house, she stepped outside.

She told the court she could see "figures" standing on the road and another "figure" lying in the street.

'Kicked like a football'

She added: "I saw three figures standing on the road. When I saw the figure on the ground I heard someone say 'will I finish him off?'"

Ms Swannie said she returned to her house and phoned 999.

Raymond Strachan, 24, told the court he saw a man being repeatedly kicked like a "football", from the window of his property in Restalrig Circus.

He said he saw a number of "very vicious" kicks.

He also told the court that when he got to the man's side, he noticed that a garden fork was lying on top of him.

Mr Strachan also noticed that the man's head was on the handle of a knife and his face was covered in blood.

It was revealed in court that all three men have previous convictions for assault and violence.