Man jailed after stabbing flat intruder to death

A Paisley man who knifed a father to death was yesterday jailed for nine years.

William Mccann, who has six previous convictions for assault, killed 30-year-old James Mcfall at a flat in Argyle Street, Paisley, in Renfrewshire in April last year.

The 37-year-old stabbed Mr Mcfall, who had forced his way into the house with a friend.

Mr Mcfall was armed with a bottle and his friend was alleged to have had a knife, but denied possessing the weapon. Mccann, who was in a bedroom watching a DVD, picked up a knife and stabbed Mr Mcfall once in the chest.

The wound went through the sac round Mr Mcfall’s heart and cut two main blood vessels. Mr Mcfall bled to death within a short time.

Judge Lord Kinclaven told Mccann: “You acted under provocation. You struck Mr Mcfall once in the chest with a knife.

“Mr Mcfall and a friend had entered the flat in possession of weapons. You assaulted Mr Mcfall and were responsible for his death. Mr Mcfall’s mother is devastated by her loss.”

Lord Kinclaven ordered Mccann to be monitored in the community for two years after his release from jail.

Mccann had pled guilty to the lesser charge of culpable homicide.