Man who beat and stabbed his pal to death jailed for 12 years

A CO Down man who ignored the pleas for mercy from his friend as he battered and knifed him to death was yesterday told he will serve at least 12 years in jail.

Mr Justice Colton told 29-yearold David Robert Boyd, from Scarva Walk in Banbridge, that this is the minimum period he will spend behind bars before he is considered eligible for release by the Parole Commission, after he admitted murdering his 55-year-old friend.

Richard Gerard Scullion was killed on Friday, July 6 last year, and his body was found three days later lying face-down in a pool of dried blood in the kitchen of his Millmount Court home.

Newry Crown Court heard last week that Boyd later told police that during his deadly attack, first with a frying pan, then with his fists and feet, Mr Scullion, known as Gerard, pleaded “I’ve had enough”.

But Boyd ignored his pleas and picked up a 19.5cm-long black-handled kitchen knife, and repeatedly stabbed him.

Handing Boyd a minimum sentence of 12 years, Mr Justice Colton saidd: “It is clear that Gerard was a man of great compassion and kindness to others, particularly the homeless.

“Indeed, it was this feature of his personality which endeared him to the defendant Mr Boyd, and was the basis for

Richard Gerard Scullion (above) who was murdered in Banbridge and his family leaving Belfast Crown Court

their friendship. All needless and senseless losses of life are tragic. Gerard’s death particularly as it was caused by someone he befriended and helped, something the defendant himself acknowledges.”

Prosecution QC Neil Connor had told the court, sitting in Belfast, a post mortem subsequently revealed the popular Mr Scullion

sustained stab wounds to his back and neck as well as several to his chest — one of which penetrated his aortic artery.

Mr Scullion, whom Boyd himself described as ‘kind .. and .. lovely’, also sustained extensive bruising to his face and fractured ribs which were consistent with being stamped on or punched whilst on the ground.

Mr Connor commented Boyd’s guilty plea was “welcomed” and, while Boyd had a criminal record which included violence, his remorse was genuine and at the time of the murder he was suffering from a mental disorder. Defence QC Patrick Lyttle described the killing as a tragedy, all the more compounded by the fact Mr Scullion was one of the few people to offer kindness and support to his client.

The barrister also said it was Boyd’s “long and deep-seated problems” with anger that led to the “spontaneous fracas”, and in the rage he “could not control .. the person who ended up giving him help, he ended up killing.”

As he sentenced Boyd, Mr Justice Colton said: “I recognise that the loss of Mr Scullion’s life cannot be measured by the length of a prison sentence.

“There is no minimum tariff I can impose that will cure the anguish and sense of loss endured by Mr Scullion’s friends and family.”

In a statement, Mr Scullion’s mother Margaret said: “The mother, sisters, son Nathan and the family circle of the late Richard Gerard Scullion RIP thank most sincerely the investigative and legal teams, and also the liaison officer and his team, all of whom dealt with Gerard’s case not statistically but with humanity and professionalism, and for this we are very appreciative.”