Jailed for life, killer who called himself The Beast
A MAN who stabbed a postwoman to death after telling onlookers ‘I may as well kill somebody’ has been jailed for at least 16 years.
Nicholas Rogers, who called himself The Beast after a psychotic film character, murdered Alex Stuart at a house party.
He plunged the blade into the 22-year-old seconds after stating his intention to kill.
Rogers yesterday returned to the High Court in Glasgow, having earlier been convicted of murder.
Jurors rejected the idea that the 28-year-old – who had a history of mental illness – was suffering from an ‘abnormality of the mind’.
Members of Miss Stuart’s family wept as Lord Summers jailed Rogers for life.
The judge said the killer had been in ‘possession of his faculties’ and had ignored warnings not to mix alcohol with drugs.
He added the stabbing was not a ‘spur of the moment’ crime.
Lord Summers said: ‘You said, “I may as well kill somebody” – that is what you did. Alex Stuart was a popular figure. Her death is a tragedy for the community.’
Rogers refused to look at Miss Stuart’s relatives as he was led handcuffed to the cells.
Jurors earlier heard that last August Rogers had turned up at the house in Peebles swigging from a bottle of gin.
Rebecca Allen, a friend of Miss
‘Not a spur of the moment crime’
Stuart, said she did not get ‘good vibes’, as Rogers was acting strangely. He later fell asleep but awoke and went into the kitchen.
Rogers came out clutching a knife believing Miss Stuart and Miss Allen had been laughing at him. He yelled he was an ‘evil b ****** ’ and a ‘bad person’.
Miss Allen said: ‘I was trying to reason with him, but it was not working. Alex was in total shock.
‘He was scraping the knife at Alex’s legs. It was a power thing.’
Jurors heard he then held the knife ‘like a dagger’. He then stated: ‘I have f ***** it – I may as well kill somebody.’
Miss Allen told the court: ‘I kept saying I wanted to get home for my wee girl. He said, “You’ll tell on me. I am going to jail anyway”.’
Miss Allen then remembered Rogers striking Miss Stuart. She said: ‘He just went in a downwards action and stabbed Alex right in the chest.’
Miss Stuart died that day in Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.
The trial heard Rogers wanted to be known as ‘The Beast’ – a character from the James McAvoy film Split about someone who has different personalities.
His lawyer had asked jurors to convict him of culpable homicide due to diminished responsibility.
Victoria Dow, defending, said: ‘He is at pains to make clear that he suffers from revulsion for his conduct.’