Killer stabbed man in the neck after football final
He had just been released from prison a few weeks before he killed the dad
AK I L L E R b r u t a l l y murdered a man at his home a f t er he had b e en out wat c h i n g Rangers’ Europa League Final defeat.
Richard Wotherspoon, 33, repeatedly stabbed Samuel Hamilton whose 82- year- old mum Bridget then battled in vain to save her son’s life.
The 56- year- old, known as Sammy, never survived having been knifed in the neck – as CCTV captured Wotherspoon fleeing the scene of the attack in Bellshill, Lanarkshire on May 18, 2022.
But the thug was later held and yesterday pleaded guilty to a murder charge at the High Court in Glasgow.
It emerged he already had a lengthy criminal past including a rape conviction in 2006.
Wotherspoon had also been released from prison just weeks before he killed dad Samuel.
He will learn the minimum he will spend behind bars when he returns to the dock next month.
Prosecutor Euan Cameron told how in July 2021 there had been an “incident” between Samuel and Wotherspoon outside the home of the victim’s daughter.
Wotherspoon later needed hospital treatment amid accusations he had been hit with a shovel.
The killer then turned up back at Samuel’s daughter’s house armed with an axe.
This ended up with Wotherspoon being sentenced to 18 months in April 2022, but the term was backdated to when he was first remanded meaning he was freed immediately.
This resulted in him being back on the streets and he instantly targeted Samuel.
In the weeks before the murder, he was seen in the dad’s street and told a number of people that he “intended to harm” Samuel.
This included warning him he was going to “get done”.
On the night of the killing, Mr Cameron told how Rangers had been playing Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League final.
The advocate depute added Wotherspoon had watched the game on TV at his sister’s home while Samuel had done the same at his daughter’s.
After the match, Wotherspoon went to Samuel’s street.
He then appeared to lie in wait as the victim parked his car outside his home.
CCTV had captured Wotherspoon in possession of a blade.
He yelled at the victim: “Sammy, Sammy ... me and you. Know what I mean.”
Samuel ignored the thug and headed into the communal garden area of his home.
But Wotherspoon tailed him and stated: “What happened that night – I just want to go over it.”
Soon after, Samuel was heard to “cry out” as Wotherspoon and his associate Taylor Rooney ran off.
A neighbour initially came to stricken Samuel’s aid. He managed to say: “I’ve been stabbed in the neck.”
Mr Cameron said: “The witness went upstairs to call 999.
“When she returned, Samuel Hamilton was lying in the doorway and his 82- year- old mother was holding a towel to his neck. She observed that he had stopped breathing.”
The emergency services arrived, but Samuel could not be saved.
Wotherspoon went on to be arrested two days later, but made no comment to the accusations.
Blood staining on his jogging bottoms and a phone, however, linked him to the killing.
Mr Cameron told the hearing Samuel suffered a total of five stab wounds.
Donald Findlay KC, defending, yesterday said Wotherspoon appeared to “brood” over the earlier incident with Samuel and “eventually it came to a head”.
A large number of Samuel’s family and friends were at court for the hearing. They did not want to comment afterwards.
Lord Armstrong remanded Wotherspoon in custody and deferred sentencing for reports until April 19 in Lanark.
Taylor Rooney had also been accused of being involved in the murder, but his not guilty pleas were accepted.