LIFE FOR THE CAMPING KILLER
CAGED BRUTE WHO MURDERED BEST FRIEND MUST SERVE 17 YEARS
A Paisley man was jailed for life yesterday after being convicted of murdering his best friend during a camping trip.
William Cameron, 39, has been ordered to serve at least 17 years behind bars before being eligible for parole.
Cameron smashed his best pal 43- year- old Darryl Fitch, from Paisley, over the head with a blunt instrument, causing him to fall from height into water.
The savage attack – which left Darryl with four massive wounds to the back of his head – took place at Locher Water at the River Gryffe near Bridge of Weir between July 10 and 13, 2015.
Judge Lord Mulholland told Cameron, who claimed in evidence that his friend had been killed by a stranger: “Why you did this no-one knows, except you.
“You spun a web of deceit to try to hide your actions from law enforcement agencies and Mr Fitch’s family and friends.
“However, the jury has seen through this web of deceit and the lies about a third person
being responsible.
“It was you that murdered Darryl Fitch.”
Lord Mulholland added: “I take into account your actions in not seeking help for Darryl Fitch as he lay dying in the water.”
The High Court in Glasgow heard that although Cameron had his friend’s working mobile phone to hand, as well as a whistle, he did not use them to summon help.
Darryl’s body was found on Monday, July 13, 2015, in shallow water near the campsite by two fishermen.
He was lying face down in the water with four large wounds to the back of his head.
Pathologist Dr Marjorie Turner told the jurors that he also had injuries consistent with falling from a height.
She said the cause of death was massive blood loss from the head injuries and drowning.
Darryl had 26 separate injuries including a black eye, fractured eye socket. five broken ribs and a fractured neck.
The court heard police found Cameron sitting yards away with a broken leg and suffering from suspected hypothermia and dehydration.
In evidence, Cameron denied the murder and said of Darryl: “He was like a brother.
“He always looked out for me. We had a good relationship. He was a good guy.”
Cameron said that they took Valium and drank before setting up camp and told the jurors that he could not put the tent up.
Cameron claimed that, as they sat round a camp fire on camping stools, he heard a rustling sound behind him. He added: “It spooked me. “There was a path behind us. I was hit on the back of my head and fell forward. It was like a flash.
“I was scared. I was panicking. I remember Darryl jumping up beside me and shouting: ‘ Run Willie or go Willie.’”
Cameron said he scrambled up the embankment and the last time he saw Mr Fitch was as he glanced back.
Prosecutor Richard Goddard said that Cameron had Darryl’s phone but did not call for help.
He added: “He had the phone and heard it ringing.
“Why would an innocent person not use the phone to call the police and emergency services?
“William Cameron also had his house keys with him and on the keyring there was a whistle. He must have known he had that, but it wasn’t used to summon help.”
The prosecutor said that Cameron kept changing his stories and added: “His changes of story coincided with William Cameron’s belief that the police were on to him.
“It stretches credulity to suggest a mystery figure came out of the shadows and attacked Darryl Fitch.”