Man beaten to death after row over sofa

A KILLER who had to be pulled away from his victim after subjecting him to a fatal attack has been jailed for eight years.

Christopher Somerville repeatedly punched the 57-year-old man before kicking and stamping on him as he lay on the ground.

A woman witness screamed at him to stop before dragging him away as she noticed blood coming from William Young's nose and ear.

Lord Pentland told Somerville at the High Court in Edinburgh that he would have jailed him for 12 years for the killing, but the sentence would be reduced following his guilty plea.

He also ordered that Somerville, 27, of Tweed Street, Larkhall, should be kept under supervision for a further four years.

Somerville, earlier admitted the culpable homicide of Mr Young by assaulting and killing him on 11 April last at Somerville's girlfriend's home in Mount Stewart Street, in Carluke.

Unemployed Somerville attacked Mr Young, of Glenafeoch Road, Carluke, in a row over a sofa, the court heard.