Edinburgh killer rammed a blade more than six inches into the throat of his victim

A murderer who cultivated an ‘obsessive hatred’ of his ex-wife’s new lover is facing life behind bars for the death a ‘true gentleman’ in a brutal knife attack.
Victim: Andy McCarron whose murder  close to Edinburgh City Social Club was captured in harrowing CCTV imagesVictim: Andy McCarron whose murder  close to Edinburgh City Social Club was captured in harrowing CCTV images
Victim: Andy McCarron whose murder close to Edinburgh City Social Club was captured in harrowing CCTV images

Paul Smith, 43, rammed a blade deep into the throat of Andrew McCarron, 49, following an altercation in Lochend Road South, Edinburgh, on July 21 2019.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard how months earlier Mr McCarron’s family member - a man called Jamie Bell - started dating Smith’s former wife Nicola Johnstone.

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Smith nursed a grudge towards Mr Bell, whose mother Catherine, 52, was engaged to Mr McCarron.

In the months leading up to the attack, Smith sent a series of text messages to Ms Johnstone in which he threatened to kill Mr Bell.

On the night of the murder, Smith armed himself with a large knife and went to visit Edinburgh City FC’s social club where members of the Bell family were enjoying a night out.

Mr McCarron tried to stop the situation from escalating into trouble. But Smith rammed the blade 15.5 centimetres - more than six inches - into his throat.

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Doctors fought to keep Mr McCarron alive. But he later lost his fight to stay alive.

The story emerged following the end of a three day trial at the High Court in Edinburgh. Smith, also of Edinburgh, admitted stabbing Mr McCarron but denied murdering him.

Smith’s lawyer Brian Gilfedder told jurors that evidence in the case showed his client was guilty of the lesser crime of culpable homicide.

However, jurors found him guilty on a charge of murder.

Judge Lord Burns remanded Smith in custody ahead of a sentencing hearing next week. He told him that he would be jailed for life.

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He added: “There is only one sentence which I can impose in this case.

“Before I can proceed I have to determine what is known as the punishment part of the sentence - that is to say the time in prison you will have to serve before you are eligible to apply for parole.

“I will therefore adjourn sentence for a period of one week and you will be remanded in custody.”

Mr McCarron worked as an electrician for an Edinburgh based company called David Love Property. The firm owns and rents private homes and commercial properties in Edinburgh, Fife, Aberdeen and Tenerife.

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In a Facebook post following the attack, Mr Love wrote: “I received a devastating phone call this morning. My good friend and irreplaceable employee Andy McCarron was murdered last night. He was a true gentleman. I hope karma acts fast. RIP Andy.”

The court heard that avid Aston Villa supporter Mr McCarron was originally from Birmingham.

During proceedings, Ms Johnstone said that she split from Smith in February 2019 and started a relationship with Mr Bell.

She told prosecution lawyer Lisa Gillespie QC that Smith started threatening Mr Bell on a weekly basis.

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When Ms Gillespie asked her about the nature of the threats, Ms Johnstone replied: “All manner of things. He would chop his b***s off.

“He was going to kill him basically. He was going to harm Jamie.”

The court heard that Smith also sent Ms Johnstone a series of text messages in which he threatened Mr Bell and insulted him.

One of the messages read: “You decided s******g a f*****g inarticulate, skinny wee ugly s******g was the way forward.”

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She said that Smith started drinking heavily after she left him.

She eventually sent him a message telling him “Done with you. You are just a nasty wee man.”

The court also heard that Smith also spoke of his dislike of Mr Bell to acquaintances.

Smith then decided to go to the social club to confront the Bell family but Mr McCarron tried to prevent him from causing trouble.

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Jurors saw explicit footage of the attack which was captured by a witness with a mobile phone.

They saw Smith ram the blade deep into Mr McCarron’s throat.

In her closing speech to jurors, Ms Gillespie apologised for showing the clip.

Ms Gillespie spoke using video conferencing technology to the jurors, who were sitting five miles away in a cinema.

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She said: “I am sorry I had to play that video to you. It was a terrible thing to have to watch it.”

But Ms Gillespie said it was necessary for her to play the clip given the nature of the case.

She added: “Paul Smith conceived an obsessive hatred of his ex wife’s lover Jamie Bell. This gives us an indication of his state of mind.”

She also urged jurors to convict Smith of murder saying the attack satisfied the legal tests needed to justify a guilty verdict.

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Ms Gillespie added: “There can hardly be a clearer example of a murderous attack than for somebody to target a vulnerable area of the body such as the neck where there are several major blood vessels.

“I say to you that this murderous attack and that you should return a verdict of guilty.”

Mr Gilfedder told the court that his client accepted that he had stabbed Mr McCarron but that the evidence showed that he hadn’t intended to take his life.

He added: “He did not deserve to die. There is only person to blame for the death of Andrew McCarron and that is Paul Smith.

“He did not intend to kill Mr McCarron.

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“In my submission to you, I invite you to find Mr Smith guilty of culpable homicide.”

Lord Burns deferred sentence in order for Mr McCarron’s family to prepare victim impact statements. Smith will be sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh on October 29.

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