STV NewsA killer who stabbed a young mum to death may never be freed after being ordered to be kept in hospital indefinitely.
Cocaine abuser Michael Porchetta, 28, knifed Aimee Cannon 45 times at her home in West Calder, West Lothian on May 7, 2022.
Beautician Aimee had previously spurned his advances, insisting they were just “pals”.
The 26-year-old’s father, Vince, discovered her body when he came to her house the next day.
Porchetta had been due to stand trial for murder, but was deemed unfit as a result of a learning disability.
An examination of facts hearing instead took place to look at the circumstances of the tragic incident and Porchetta’s mental state at the time.
Lord Mulholland concluded in November last year that Porchetta “beyond reasonable doubt” carried out the attack.
The killer was back in the dock at the High Court in Glasgow on Thursday.
After hearing evidence from two psychiatrists who had compiled reports on Porchetta, Lord Mulholland imposed an indefinite compulsion order for him to remain at the State Hospital in Carstairs.
The judge told him: “I found that you murdered Aimee Cannon – for whatever reason, only you will know.
“You subjected her to a cowardly, vicious and frenzied attack.
“She was defenceless as you were armed with a knife or knives. It is clear from some of her defensive injuries and her broken nails, she fought for her life.”
He added Porchetta had “deviously tried to cover his tracks” including getting rid of Aimee’s mobile phone and trying to clean blood from his trainers.
A large throng of Aimee’s relatives were once again in court – some hugged and were in tears at the end of the hearing.
Lord Mulholland said he had read emotional impact statements penned by family, which he described as “heart-wrenching”.
He concluded: “You clearly are a danger to the public.”
The earlier examination of facts in Edinburgh had heard agreed evidence read by prosecutor John McElroy KC of Aimee’s injuries.
Porchetta stayed with his uncle and sister after their parents passed away.
Porchetta’s unclde told the court how his nephew returned home at 7am on May 7.
He recalled: “I asked him how his night was. He said: ‘Aye, it was alright’. He went upstairs.
“He changed his clothes and went out to work.”
Porchetta returned around 5pm and had his dinner. A woman also arrived and they went to his room.
It was the next afternoon, an “upset” Porchetta went out to speak to his uncle while he was gardening.
His uncle said: “He said to me: ‘The lassie has been murdered up the street. My pals told me’.
“Michael said he had been up at her house on the Friday night.
“He always went there. He said he had been taking drugs. He then said his pals had called and told him Aimee had been stabbed.”
Porchetta’s sister also gave evidence, and she recalled how she smelled what she thought was blood on his jeans when she went to get them for the wash.
She said: “I asked him where it had come from. He said he had cut his thumb after catching it on a barbed wire fence.
“He also said he had been to Aimee’s on Friday night, but left around midnight.
“He denied doing anything to Aimee.”
Porchetta claimed he had left her “safe and well”.
But his sister called the police and told her brother that he had to speak to them.
She also told how the family had been concerned about his cocaine abuse.
The witness stated: “Michael said he had to stop it as it was ‘f***ing him up in the head’.”
Porchetta was said to have regularly asked his uncle for cash while taking cocaine.
Witnesses spoke of Porchetta “trying it on” with Aimee – but she rebuffed him insisting he was “just my wee pal”.
One friend said Aimee had contacted him months before the killing to get Porchetta to leave her house.
She was described as “anxious, alarmed and upset”.
Consultant psychiatrist Dr Stuart Doig was one of the two medical professionals who gave evidence.
He said Porchetta needs “concerted long-term risk management” measures while at the state hospital.
At one stage, Lord Mulholland asked the witness: “It is possible that he is never released?”
Dr Doig replied: “That is correct.”
The psychiatrist also agreed during his evidence that there appeared to be “no clear motive” for the killing.
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