Man who killed drug dealer over £10 facing jail

William Paterson (46) repeatedly stabbed James Beveridge (41) on the head, neck and body during a frenzied attack in Kirkcaldy, Fife, on October 15, 2016.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard on Friday how Paterson had fallen out with Mr Beveridge because he wanted to buy drugs on credit.

Police also suspected that Paterson wanted refunded over “dud” Valium tablets which he had previously purchased from Mr Beveridge.

However, the dealer refused to do business with his client and after the pair exchanged text messages, they met up with each other.

Prosecution lawyer Ashley Edwards QC told the court that Mr Beveridge sustained cuts to his head and a wound to the left side of his neck.

Ms Edwards added: “Despite the injury he had sustained the deceased apparently managed to get to his feet telling the accused that ‘You’re going down for a murder all over a tenner.’”

The story emerged after Paterson, of Lismore Avenue, Kirkcaldy, pleaded guilty before judge Lord Armstrong to a culpable homicide charge.

Ms Edwards, the advocate depute, told the court that the pair knew each other from the “local drug scene”.

She added: “The deceased was a known supplier of Valium tablets, albeit at a relatively low level.

“Telephone contact between the accused and the deceased can be seen.

“It would seem likely from the tone and content of these messages that the accused was seeking to purchase drugs, probably Valium tablets, on tick.

“The deceased refused and they arrange to meet at the locus of the fatal attack presumably to resolve the dispute.

“There is also a suggestion from the accused in interview that he was looking for monies to be refunded from a previous purchase as the tablets he received were in the accused’s words ‘dud’.”

Ms Edwards told the court the content of the texts sent between the two.

She said: “The exchange of text messages provide a flavour of the row between the accused and the deceased over drugs and money.

“In a text timed at 5.50pm, the deceased told the accused that ‘Ah don’t do tick as they are not mine, so if you want to be like that, bring it on, I don’t need your business once a fortnight.’

“In response in a message to the deceased at 5.54pm, the accused texted ‘meet me now ya p***k I’m puttin’ my coat on. I’ll get you at the circle Fanny.’”

Moments before the confrontation, the court heard that Mr Beveridge asked a man Gary Walkingshaw (38) to hand him a knuckle duster.

Ms Edwards added: “The deceased also took off his jacket and gave it to Walkingshaw to hold.

“A verbal confrontation followed, between the accused and the deceased, and in the course of this confrontation, the witness Walkingshaw stated that he noticed something glinting up the accused’s sleeve.

“The deceased repeatedly struck the accused on the head with the knuckle duster.

“The accused was in possession of a knife and struck the deceased around the head causing two superficial injuries and one penetrating wound to the left side of his neck.

“The witness Walkingshaw was ultimately able to disarm the accused and thereafter threw the knife onto the pavement out of harm’s way.”

The court heard that medical staff tried to save Mr Beveridge’s life. However, he died on October 16.

Police arrested Paterson. He told officers that the attack was “over a tenner”.

He was arrested and brought to court.

Lord Armstrong gave his condolences to members of Mr Beveridge’s family who were sitting in court.

He told Paterson: “You have pleaded guilty to a grave crime. There are no circumstances which can justify the taking of another person’s life.

“It is inevitable that a substantial custodial sentence will follow.”

Sentence was then deferred for the court to obtain reports about Paterson’s character.

He will be sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow on August 11 2017.