Man jailed for stabbing ex-mr Scotland bodybuilding champion to death
A man has been jailed for 14-and-a-half years for killing a former Mr Scotland bodybuilding champion.
Steven Kirkwood, 44, stabbed Michael “Musk” O’hanlon four times and he died from blood loss.
Yesterday, Mr O’hanlon’s niece Haylie O’hanlon said: “Steven Kirkwood is an evil man. I hope he rots in jail for the rest of his life.” The brutal knife attack took place in the office of HK Autotek garage in Stevenson, Ayrshire, on 25 July last year.
Kirkwood was originally charged with murder, but the jury at the High Court in Glasgow unanimously convicted him of the reduced charge of culpable homicide under provocation.
The court heard that the killing was sparked by abusive emails sent by Kirkwood and his former partner Eileen Kirkwood, who was due to marry Mr O’hanlon.
Judge Lady Rae told Kirkwood: “The background to this incident appears to have been an exchange of the most insulting and abusive communications between you and your former partner. Each participant was, in my view, as bad as the other and it is frankly astonishing to see adults behaving in this way.
“The consequences were tragic leading to the death of a much-loved man.
“What is clear is you challenged Mr O’hanlon to fight. You set the place and the time. You then went armed with a lethal weapon.
“You were armed and in the course of the fight between you and Mr O’hanlon which lasted no more than 30 to 60 seconds you stabbed the deceased four times causing very serious and fatal injuries.”
Kirkwood claimed that he had acted in self defence after being assaulted by Mr O’hanlon, who was 45 and from Irvine, and his friend Forbes Cowan, 52, a former competitor in the World’s Strongest Man contest.
His QC Derek Ogg said: “Mr Kirkwood has expressed empathy and remorse.”
As Kirkwood was led away to begin his sentence he mouthed to his partner Martine Greenan: “I love you. I’m sorry.”