Woman kills her lover with bash on the head

Killer uses whiskey bottle bought for victim’s birthday

A Coatbridge woman killed her lover on his birthday with a bottle of whiskey she’d bought him to celebrate.

Alexis Cook violently struck James McGrogan, also from Coatbridge, on the head with the opportunistic weapon during an argument at his flat on March 13, his 54th birthday.

The 32-year-old was later heard saying, “I hit him with a Jim Beam bottle. I think I gave him a bad one this time”.

They had been dating for around two years at the time of the fatal attack.

Cook had been due to stand trial for murder at the High Court in Glasgow, but prosecutors accepted her guilty plea to the reduced charge of culpable homicide.

The court heard Mr McGrogan had been initially celebrating his birthday with Cook and his mum.

The dad later went to a local shop and it was there he met his son, whom he had not seen for a decade.

Prosecutor David Taylor said: “James returned to his flat and was noted to be in a happy and emotional state following this reconciliation.”

But, James and Cook later started arguing.

Mr Taylor explained: “She was castigating him for his lack of previous contact with his family.

“She was noted to be storming in and out of rooms at the flat.”

The couple were then alone and heard to be having a “blazing row”.

A neighbour noticed “sounds of a commotion” which appeared to stop about 8.15pm.

It was around this time Cook texted her sister: “Answer your phone. I’m in big trouble.”

The killer then went to a nearby flat where blood was spotted on her pyjama bottoms and head.

She confessed to people there: “I hit him with a Jim Beam bottle. It was his birthday today.

“I hit him twice. I’d bought a bottle of it for him for his birthday.”

She claimed her and Mr McGrogan had been “fighting”.

Cook went on: “I think I gave him a bad one this time. I left him lying in the hall.

“He’ll be alright. I threw a cover over him.”

Before leaving, Cook added: “The next time you hear from me will probably be a letter from Saughton.”

It was Cook herself who later dialled 999.

Mr McGrogan was discovered by police lying under a duvet in the hall.

He was found to have “significant head trauma” with a large amount of broken glass in the flat.

Cook told officers she had hit Mr McGrogan, but denied “using anything”.

She also said her boyfriend had bit her on the bottom.

Cook insisted Mr McGrogan had been alive when she left his home.

The victim was later found to have injuries “consistent” with smashed or broken glass.

The cause of death included “blunt force head injury”.

Donald Findlay QC, defending, said: “I wish to make clear that Miss Cook has at no point shied away from accepting responsibility for the death.”

He added the killing is a crime she “profoundly regrets”.

Lord Mulholland deferred sentencing for reports.

Killer Alexis Cook struck Mr McGrogan with a bottle she’d bought him for his birthday

Left to die James McGrogan was found under a duvet in his hallway