Hammer killer to serve twenty years

Judge condemns‘brutal and savage murder’

A vicious hammer killer who shattered an Airdrie man’s skull in a row over stolen underwear has been jailed for at least 20 years.

Gordon McCrone, 46, was convicted of murdering 40-yearold Malcolm McLaren at his Clark Street home last September.

The father-of-four took McCrone in as a lodger after he lost his job and his marriage broke up.

At the High Court in Glasgow in June, McCrone’s claims that he acted in self-defence were rejected by a jury.

Last week, Judge Lord Arthurson jailed McCrone for life and told him: “Your victim was a loving, caring brother, father and uncle who had taken you into his home.

“I have received a full and moving victim impact statement from your victim’s sister. This has affected them profoundly. You committed a brutal and savage murder with a claw hammer.

“You caused devastating injuries to your victim in his own home.”

McCrone rained blows on Mr McLaren’s head at least 13 times. He also smashed four of his ribs and left him for dead in the bloodspatted living room.

The court heard that McCrone was angry because he believed Malcolm was stealing his underwear and socks.

He finally snapped when he thought Malcolm had taken his laptop and jewellery belonging to his late father and carried out the murderous attack.

Callous McCrone then tried to cover his tracks by disposing of the bloodstained hoodie and shoes he was wearing.

He also sent text messages to Malcolm’s phone even though he knew he was lying dead on the sofa.

The last text he sent said: “What are you up to Malky. My son and aunt say there is police tape everywhere, r u home, everything OK?”

When asked why he disposed of bloodstained clothing and sent texts he replied: “I was trying to beat the system.

“When I looked at the living room it was a horror scene. I didn’t want to admit what I had done.”

McCrone told the jury that Malcolm had attacked him with a hammer and he had managed to grab it away from him.

He said they began arguing and added: “He was constantly stealing from me.”

McCrone was asked by his defence QC Ian Duguid: “You told the police he was taking your underwear and socks,” and he replied: “That’s correct.”

The former delivery driver said: “Malcolm was swinging the hammer. I was able to block the hammer and grab it with my right hand.”

He added: “I was in a fight for my life. Malcolm did put up a ferocious fight. We were fighting. I pleaded with him to behave and stop fighting.”

McCrone added: “I believe I did overreact and possibly hit him more than I should have. I was wildly swinging the hammer with my right hand. I’m left handed. If I had been using my left hand I could have possibly knocked him out with one or two blows.”

A pathologist revealed that after the assault Malcolm’s skull was fractured and smashed into pieces and he suffered five broken ribs.

McCrone had a bruise to his wrist.

He confessed to his ex-wife in a letter written from prison saying: “My temper got the better of me. But he tried to stop me calling the police by hitting me with the hammer first and paid the price. Believe me I am not proud of what I did.”

Mr Duguid said: “Prior to this incident Mr McCrone only had a driving conviction and no history or violence. The accused believed Mr McLaren had started to steal his possessions.”

McCrone showed no emotion as he was led away to begin his sentence.

Brutal death Dad-of-four Malcolm McLaren was bludgeoned by the man he took in as a lodger

Crime scene Police outsiude the Clark Street flat where the murder took place