Jail death of Scots killer who murdered vulnerable friend in own home probed

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A probe has been announced into the jail death of a Scots man who murdered his pal in his own home.

Darrin Callander was handed a life sentence after he punched, kicked and stamped on Brian Scott, 54, and left him to die at a property at Gilbert Circle in Dumfries in April 2013. The victim suffered a catalogue of injuries, including smashed ribs, a ruptured spleen, fractured vertebrae and brain damage.

The twisted murderer died on September 18, 2021 at HMP Shotts near Glasgow at the age of 41.

The Procurator Fiscal, Les Brown, announced this week that a Fatal Accident Inquiry (FAI) will be carried out into the death. The preliminary hearing will take place at Hamilton Sheriff Court on January 7, 2025.

Callander was jailed for a minimum of 14 and a half years after admitting murdering Brian, known as Tucker, on April 25, 2013.

The High Court in Glasgow heard the friends, and another man, Robert Burgess, had been drinking when Callander suddenly pounced and pulled Brian to the floor.

Mr Burgess later told cops that the victim, who was of poor health and used a walking stick, had “no chance” as Callander launched a brutal attack which lasted five minutes, ignoring pleas from the witness to stop.

The next morning Callander went back to the house to check on his friend and discovered his bloodstained body lying where he had left him, but made no attempt to call emergency services and police were alerted when two other friends discovered the scene.

Callander told pals he was going to confess and went to a police station but said nothing. He was later detained and charged with murder.

Lord Burns initially fixed Callander’s minimum sentence at nine years and nine months but it was extended after an appeal.

Advocate depute Alex Prentice QC told Edinburgh’s Court of Criminal Appeal soon after that Callander “pleaded guilty to what can properly be described as a brutal and sustained attack”.

Lord Justice Clerk Lord Carloway also noted that Callander had a string of convictions involving violence, carrying weapons and obstructing police and five years was added to the sentence.

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