Mr Abie's sons admit killing mother's lover

TWO brothers have admitted killing a local football referee because they believed he had assaulted their mother.

Christopher Abraham, 26, and Robert Abraham, 20, attacked 65-year-old David Linning at his home in East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire, last December. He was punched, kicked and slashed on the face with a knife.

The brothers, sons of former Radio Clyde presenter Mr Abie, will be sentenced next month.

At the High Court in Glasgow they pleaded guilty to the culpable homicide of Mr Linning, who died from inhaling his own blood. The court heard his body was not found until two days after the attack when a friend came to collect him to referee a match in the town.

Prosecutor Ashley Edwards said the brothers' mother, Jennifer Abraham, had been living with Mr Linning.

On 9 December last year, Mr Linning told Mrs Abraham that he could no longer cope with her drinking and ordered her to leave his home.

The following day, she returned to collect her clothing. Mrs Abraham, who was drunk, slipped and fell outside her friend Jane Reilly's home, cutting her face.

She sent a text message to her estranged husband, Robert Abraham, whose stage name was Mr Abie, saying she had a sore face.

The prosecutor said the accused had interpreted this message as meaning that Mr Linning had assaulted their mother.

Judge Lady Stacey deferred sentence until next month for background reports.

Mr Linning, 65, is survived by his five children, 15 grandchildren and a great-grandson.