Murder victim named killer with his dying breath

Scar-faced James Lovell, 38, today plead guilty to killing Garry MacLeod earlier this year.

Jealous Lovell bent the blade of a large kitchen knife during a frenzied attack on bouncer Garry MacLeod as he lay naked in bed with Lovell's ex-girlfriend.

Lovell had smashed his way into her flat in Buchanan Street, Edinburgh, on the morning of January 30 and burst into the bedroom. Both Mr MacLeod, 46, and girlfriend Debra Taylor, 32, were initially trapped in the bed as Lovell lay across their legs and pulled out a knife.

Ms Taylor saw him stabbing and slashing her new lover before she was able to flee, wearing only a bloodstained nightdress. She dialled dial 999 from a neighbour's house.

Police and ambulance crews arrived at the flat to find Mr MacLeod still alive but having great difficulty breathing, advocate depute Alastair Kennedy told the High Court in Edinburgh.

Mr Kennedy added: "He knew, to use his own words, that he was not going to make it."

As they began to treat him, Mr MacLeod tore off his oxygen mask and gasped: "I cannae breathe, I cannae breathe. I ken who done it, it was James Lovell."

Mr MacLeod stopped breathing just two minutes later and his heart stopped as he was being stretchered into the ambulance. Medics at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary were unable to revive him.

Lovell, also of Buchanan Street, went on the run and police launched a major manhunt. They issued a photograph of the 38-year-old and appealed for help from the public to trace him.

Forensic teams later combed parts of Buchanan Street for several hours. They visited Ms Taylor's flat and a neighbour's home along the street while police officers carried out door-to-door inquiries after sealing off part of the road.

When police made their appeal they described Lovell as 5ft 11in, thin, with a bald head shaved at the sides. He was also described as having blue eyes, a 2in to 3in scar down right side of face, rotten green stained teeth and a tattoo on the outside of one of his legs with the word "Saughton" in a circle with "1987" within the circle.

Lovell was seen shaking hands with father-of-one Mr Macleod in a Leith pub the night before the murder.

Mr Macleod was working as a doorman at the Volunteer Arms when he bumped into Lovell.

Lovell gave himself up a week later. He originally made no plea or declaration in a brief appearance in private before Sheriff Gordon Liddle in February, but today pleaded guilty to murder.

He is due to be sentenced in August when judge Lord Philip has background reports.