Golf club killer faces life sentence

Published on Thursday 19 November 2009 21:55

A MAN is facing a life sentence after admitting that he murdered his neighbour by stabbing him in the head with a broken golf club.

Colin Gourlay, 48, attacked Daniel Hambleton, 19, outside their homes in Dalkeith, Midlothian. The killer's son, Dean Gourlay, 25, had challenged Mr Hambleton to a fight. The deceased went armed with a golf club, which snapped. Colin Gourlay picked up one piece of it and use it to inflict a fatal blow.

At the High Court in Edinburgh yesterday, Gourlay, of Kippielaw Park, Mayfield, pleaded guilty to the murder of Mr Hambleton on 16 May. Dean Gourlay, of Carlowrie Avenue, South Queensferry, admitted assaulting Mr Hambleton to his severe injury. Both men will be sentenced next month.

The court heard that Gourlay and Mr Hambleton lived in flats in the same block and there had been a history of ill-feeling between them. Dean Gourlay knocked at Mr Hambleton's door and challenged him to come out to fight.

Dean Gourlay took a broken golf club, an iron, from Mr Hambleton, and struck the victim on the back of the head. He fell to the ground.

Advocate-depute Keith Stewart said: "Gourlay went to where the deceased was lying on the pavement. Both of them began to kick him.

"Gourlay picked up the golf club head and struck the deceased.

"The broken end penetrated the skull."

An ambulance was called, and doctors found Mr Hambleton had extensive brain injuries.