Man who refused drink murdered for being 'cheeky'

Published on Saturday 6 September 2008 01:23

A THUG who kicked a man to death for refusing a drink said his victim was being "cheeky".

Thomas Muir, 44, was questioned by police after Val Dalzell's body was found at a drinking den in Clydebank, on 21 February. He told them that Mr Dalzell was sleeping off a drinking binge under a quilt, wearing only socks and underpants.

A court heard that when Mr Dalzell, 48, refused another drink, Muir challenged him to fight. Muir later told police: "He was very cheeky to me. I turned round and said: 'Would you like to put your clothes on, mate, and we'll have a square go?' He said 'no' then I jumped for his head."

But at the High Court in Edinburgh he denied murder – claiming someone else was as likely to have inflicted the fatal blow.

The jury found Muir guilty of murder. The judge, Lord Menzies, remanded him in custody. He is to be sentenced next month.