Man jailed for 16 years for 'abhorrent' murder

A 33-year-old man will serve at least 16 years in jail after being convicted of the "utterly abhorrent" murder of another man at a house in the Highlands.

Michael Joyce was found guilty by a jury at the High Court in Edinburgh last month of attacking Michael White, 61, in Kyle of Lochalsh in April last year.

Joyce's partner, mother-of-four Antonia Gunn, 28, was acquitted of the charge on a unanimous not proven verdict.

The Crown withdrew other charges, including one brought under human trafficking and exploitation legislation.

Donald Findlay KC, for Joyce, said his client continued to deny that he was responsible for Mr White's death but was “contrite” that a life had been lost.

It had originally been alleged that Mr White was kept in servitude and was instructed to transfer money to Joyce and Ms Gunn and drive them to appointments.

Joyce denied murdering Mr White by repeatedly striking him and inflicting blunt force trauma injuries to his head and body on 22 or 23 April last year.

The court heard that forensic pathologists who examined Mr White's body found rib fractures and internal injuries.

The experts concluded the cause of his death was complications of blunt force trauma and heart disease.

The court heard Mr White was emaciated and had peritonitis, a painful inflammation of the lining of his abdomen.

During the trial, a witness described seeing Joyce punching Mr White in the stomach.

Sentencing Joyce White at the High Court in Stirling, Judge Lady Poole, told him: “This was an appalling crime.”

She said Joyce had tried to cover up after the crime, his clothes had been changed, and items had been thrown into the sea.

She said Mr White had been described as “a kind and gentle man who put other people first” and who supported community causes but was also a “vulnerable, emaciated frail 61-year-old” with heart problems.

There was evidence that had medical attention been sought in time for him after he received his fatal injuries, he might have survived.

Det Insp Richard Baird, of Police Scotland, described Joyce’s actions towards Michael White as “utterly abhorrent”.

He said: “Initially he attempted to present himself as a friend of Mr White, and it was only after a post mortem that it became apparent he had, in fact, died as a result of injuries he had inflicted."