Big Issue killer faces life for knifing fellow addict

Published on Wednesday 3 June 2009 20:55

A MAN who "snapped" and repeatedly stabbed to death a fellow Big Issue seller is facing a life sentence after he admitted a murder charge yesterday.

Paul Clark, 33, of Dundee, inflicted 24 knife wounds on Patrick McDade, 37, in an argument about missing money which was to have been used to buy them drugs.

The two were heroin addicts who partly funded their habit by selling the magazine, the High Court in Edinburgh heard.

Mr McDade's body was found on 23 January in his flat in Dundee by his father, who had been unable to contact him by phone. He had been dead for almost a week.

Police were given names of a number of people who allegedly confessed to the murder and officers were initially wary when Clark said he had done it.

However, he provided details of the killing and explained he had given Mr McDade 120 to buy heroin. He had believed Mr McDade's claim that someone else had made off with the cash. Later, he overheard Mr McDade admit stealing the money.

Clark said he went to confront Mr McDade. He snapped when Mr McDade laughed.

Clark will be sentenced next month.