Body lay in Glenrothes home for a fortnight after fatal attack

Sergejs Samarins (29) attacked Aleksandrs Sokolovs, also 29, at the flat they shared in Tummel Road in March last year.

Samarins, who pleaded guilty to culpable homicide at the High Court in Glasgow on Friday, flew into a rage after the victim taunted him about a previous spell in prison.

Police at one stage turned up, but left after a man – believed to Samarins – told them everything was fine.

However, Mr Sokolovs’ mother in Latvia became concerned as she had not heard from her son.

On April 13, more than two weeks after the attack, officers returned and forced entry and discovered Mr Sokolovs’ body. He was found to have died due to a brain injury as a result of the attack in which he was repeatedly punched and also hit with a chair.

Samarins had originally faced a murder charge.

Frances McMenamin QC , defending, said Samarins did not know what to do when he returned to the flat and found his friend still lying on the floor.

Lord Burns imposed an interim compulsion order on Samarins, who is currently in the State Hospital at Carstairs.

Samarins will return to court in November.