Man killed by birthday gift

A woman has killed her boyfriend after hitting him with a bottle of whisky she had bought him for his birthday.

Alexis Cook, 32, attacked James Mcgrogan on the day he turned 54 in March.

Prosecutors yesterday accepted Cook’s guilty plea to the reduced charge of culpable homicide. She was remanded in custody pending sentencing next month.

The killing occurred

at James’ flat in Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire, on 13 March. The court heard James had been celebrating his birthday initially with Cook and his mother. The butcher later went to a local shop and it was there he met his son, whom he had not seen for a decade.

Prosecutor David Taylor said: “James returned to his flat and was noted to be in a happy and emotional state following this reconciliation.” But James and Cook later stated arguing in a row that led to his death.