Ben McCulloch turned on his friend Stephen Quigley at this home in Barrhead. He struck the now deceased on the side of his head with a knife. He then drove his friend to a closed section of the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley. 

Quigley who was injured and disorientated attempted to walk to A&E to get help but he was found dead outside a ward the next morning. The court that he would have survived if he had received medical treatment. 

The court heard that the friends had been drinking in McCulloch’s flat. Advocate Depute Angela Gray stated: “Later that afternoon, McCulloch and Mr Quigley became involved in an altercation. During this, McCulloch took control of the knife and struck Mr Quigley inflicting a blow to his head, causing the long-incised wound on the right side of his head. 

Mr Quigley was seen on CCTV walking for help and was ‘unsteady on his feet’. Ms Gray explained: “The injury to his head would have been survivable if prompt medical attention had been secured.”

McCulloch was initially charged with murder; however, he pled guilty to a lesser charge of culpable homicide. He claimed he dropped him a distance from A&E as he did not want to give details of how the injuries came about. 

Judge Lord Mulholland asked why McCulloch did not drop Mr Quigley off without giving details. 

Ian Duguid, defending, stated in response: “Exactly, it was whatever decision that was taken rightly or wrongly, he did not know his friend had died or not received treatment until he was picked up.”

Lord Mulholland deferred sentence in order for background reports to be obtained.