Man who brutally murdered Good Samaritan who let him stay in his flat 'may never be freed'

A killer who brutally murdered a Good Samaritan who had allowed him to stay in his flat has been jailed for at least 19 years.

Waldermar Jaronski smacked musician Iain MacFarlane, 32, with a glass bottle before choking him and stuffing a pair of boxers into his mouth.

The 52-year-old then dialled 999 to admit what he had done on December 4.

Former construction worker Jaronski was back in the dock at the High Court in Glasgow on Monday.

He had earlier pled guilty – via his KC Richard Goddard – to a charge of murder.

Lord Mulholland told Jaronski: “The victim impact statements from Iain MacFarlane’s parents and sister are heartbreaking.

“What struck me was how kind a person he was.

“He always helped others particularly those in need. He was a magnificent musician and writer.

“His musicianship took him all the world. Iain MacFarlane’s parents describe the entire city of Inverness being in mourning when he passed.

“You have visited on his family a life sentence of profound grief and loss.”

The minimum jail-term was cut from 21 years due to the guilty plea. Jaronski was warned he may never be freed.

Iain – originally from Ullapool in the Highlands – lived alone in Inverness.

The victim had first met Jaronski around a month before the murder, while Iain had been busking in the city centre.

The men again came into contact on December 2.

Prosecutor Anna Chisholm said: “Jaronski had no fixed address. Iain MacFarlane invited him to stay at his flat that night.”

Jaronski was said to have told another person the next day that his mood was “low”.

He had also been drinking.

Iain’s father later urged his son not to let Jaronski stay with him because of this.

The court heard the murder happened between 2am and 8.20am on December 4.

This was after Iain had returned home pledging to give the change from his taxi fare to a “friend” who needed it.

There was no one else in the flat.

Jaronski later gave an account he had become angry after Iain allegedly did something he did not like.

Ms Chisholm said prosecutors could neither confirm nor refute that claim.

Jaronski had a knife on him and brandished it at Iain, who managed to grab the blade.

Ms Chisholm said: “There was a struggle. While it continued, Jaronski picked up a glass bottle and struck him on the right side of the head.

“This caused the bottle to shatter and Iain MacFarlane dropped the knife. He fell and landed on his back.

“Jaronski knelt beside him, close to his body and restrained him.

“He then placed his knee on his neck and pressed down with his body weight.

“Iain MacFarlane lost consciousness. Jaronski tied two ligatures around his neck.”

This was a strap of material pulled tight together into a knot as well as the cord from a vacuum.

Ms Chisholm added: “He also forced a pair of boxer shorts into his mouth.”

A blood-stained Jaronski soon left the flat with his dog.

He then called 999 and confessed: “I killed Iain. He is dead.”

Iain was discovered by emergency crews in his living room, which was littered with broken glass.

Iain died from ligature compression and his upper airway being blocked.

The court heard that Jaronski “makes no excuse” for what he did to Iain, whom he appeared to have been on “good terms” with.

Defence advocate Mr Goddard: “He says that the behaviour was the greatest regret of his life and that he is definitely sorry for that.”

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