Man admits murdering his brother in New Year fire
Court hears of brothers’ ‘hostile’ relationship
A man has admitted murdering his brother and attempting to murder his brother’s girlfriend by setting fire to them as they slept in bed on New Year’s Day.
Blair Logan poured petrol on his younger brother Cameron, 23, and the bed he was sharing with Rebecca Williams at their family home in Milngavie, East Dunbartonshire. Ms Williams was rescued from the fire and treated in hospital, while Logan’s parents were treated for smoke inhalation. Logan, 27, pleaded guilty to a chargeofmurderandattempted murder at the High Court in Glasgow yesterday.
He also admitted endangering the lives of his parents David and Catherine in the blaze, in which the family dog Gomez was also killed.
Both parents were in the court room in Glasgow, along with Ms Williams, as the guilty plea was made in front of judge Lady Scott.
Advocate Depute Alex Prentice QC, prosecuting, said the accused admitted pouring petrol “with the intention of maiming or crippling” his brother.
The court heard that the two brothers had a “hostile” rela- tionship and Logan told police they had not spoken since the death of their grandmother in 2013.
On the night of the fire, Cameron and Rebecca had arranged to stay the night at thefamilyhomeandhismother Catherine set up an inflatable mattress for them in the living room.
They returned from a new year party at around 4am and went to sleep.
At around 7:15am, Mrs Logan was woken by the family dog whining and went downstairs, where she saw a figure in dark clothing standing inside the living room. Ms Williams also saw a man in the room, holding something that was on fire, and she and Cameron both screamed. The attack was said to be in retaliation for a recent incident at the house when his brother had punched him.
A computer seized from Logan’s bedroom showed that from October 2016 he had carried out internet searches on burns victims.
The 27-year-old, who was a Tesco store assistant, admitted killing his brother during a police interview on 13 January.
He told officers: “It was not my intent to kill him but I did do it.”
Defence lawyer Shelagh Mccall QC said Logan showed “wicked recklessness” but did not intend to kill his sibling. Lady Scott deferred sentence until 11 August.