A man who bludgeoned his friend with a hammer after they had a falling out has been jailed for at least 15 years for murder.

John Young, 33, wrestled the weapon from 46-year-old James Hynes during a fight and went on to inflict “nine or 10 blows” to his head and body.

Mr Hynes died in hospital several weeks later due to “complication from blunt force head trauma”.

Young pleaded guilty to murder at the High Court in Edinburgh last month and was handed a life sentence with at least 15 years behind bars on Tuesday.

Judge Lady Haldane said: “Not only have you taken his life, but you have deprived his family of a much-loved father, partner and grandfather.

“Nothing I say or do today can alter that tragic reality or truly reflect the loss that his family have suffered.”

The attack occurred in Livingston, West Lothian, on 21 July last year.

The court heard how Young had fallen out with Mr Hynes over “various issues” earlier that month.

Mr Hynes was in bed with his partner when an intoxicated Young began banging loudly on the window of the property.

A fight broke out and Mr Hynes, armed with a hammer, struck Young.

Young wrestled the weapon from Mr Hynes, with the fight ending with the victim lying on the ground.

Young initially walked away, but Lady Haldane said: “Tragically, you did not leave matters there but came back and inflicted nine or 10 blows with the hammer to Mr Hynes as he lay on the ground, telling him you were going to kill him.

“You did not achieve that aim immediately, but Mr Hynes did succumb to his injuries about a month later.

“Post-mortem results disclosed at least five blows with a heavy implement to Mr Hynes’ head and face.”

Read more from Sky News:
Inmate on the run after deadly attack on prison convoy
Woman partially paralysed after rockstar’s stage dive

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free

Mr Hynes’ partner found him lying in the street and called for an ambulance.

He was taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, where he was found to have multiple skull fractures with bleeding and bruising on his brain.

Mr Hynes also suffered a traumatic brain injury, facial bone fractures, a fracture of the eye socket, multiple rib fractures and a fractured breastbone.

He required surgery to remove part of his skull to alleviate pressure on his brain, and was placed in an induced coma, intubated and remained in intensive care.

Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News

Mr Hynes suffered a large bleed on his brain a few weeks later on 17 August, which led to “global irreversible brain injury”. His condition was deemed “unsurvivable”.

After discussions with his family, his life support was withdrawn on 19 August. Mr Hynes died later that day.

Shelagh McCall KC, representing Young, said he had suffered many “adverse” childhood experiences and that he had tried to cope with this by “self-medicating” with drink and drugs.

Ms McCall added: “He also wants me to convey his remorse at what he has done to Mr Hynes and for the suffering he has caused to his family.”

Related posts:

Adults coercing kids to join Northern Ireland violence could be committing ‘child abuse’ Specialist police units to protect world leaders from seaborne threats as G7 comes to Cornwall Facebook down: 10 memes poking fun at outage as world flocks to Twitter instead Pedestrian killed after BMW crashes into house in northwest London Red Arrow jets and Typhoon planes grounded over safety concerns Body found after 21-year-old man went missing in the water near Clacton Pier Raheem Sterling to decide if he will fly back to Qatar for England’s showdown against France BBC presenter should only be named after ‘full’ investigation, says justice secretary Pass rate falls as Scottish pupils receive exam results Bed bugs found in library – as pest controllers say spread is ‘out of control’ Buses ‘vandalised’ on Halloween with ‘large objects thrown at drivers’ Women’s Nations League: England vs Netherlands latest updates