Pair admit murdering man in botched Renfrew robbery

Two men have admitted murdering a man in a street robbery gone wrong.

James Cook, 49, and Brian Reilly, 37, attacked Alastair Campbell close to his home in Renfrew in the early hours of October 30, 2023.

The 52-year-old managed to stagger back to his flat, but only made it to his front door, where he was later discovered by a friend.

Cook and Reilly were eventually charged with the killing, having fled the scene at the time.

They had been due to stand trial, but instead both admitted their guilt at the High Court in Glasgow where they were jailed for life.

Cook was ordered to serve a minimum of 16 years and eight months, while Reilly was sentenced to 15 years and nine months.

The killing was Cook’s fifth high court conviction, including a previous prison term for attempted murder.

Reilly also had a violent past including offences involving a knife.

Alastair – described as a “gentle big soul” who was well-known in the local area – had been with others at a flat in Renfrew that night.

Alastair and a friend then left and planned to walk to the other man’s home but on the way, the victim decided he would briefly stop alone at his own flat before continuing.

Cook and Reilly had been coming and going that night from the home of Reilly’s girlfriend.

At one stage, Cook was seen sharpening various weapons. The pair were also said to have been “angry” that someone had earlier been at the woman’s door.

CCTV captured them leaving the flat after midnight – both were wearing dark clothes.

Further footage played in court showed Alastair and his friend, around the same time, walking in the street.

At some stage, Cook and Reilly ended up following them.

The victim soon parted from his friend as he headed towards his flat.

Prosecutor Lynsey Rodger then told the court: “Alastair Campbell became aware that there was someone behind him.”

CCTV footage was played during the hearing of the pair approaching Alastair on the town’s Renfield Street.

The men were seen to push and pull Alastair, causing him to fall to the ground. Cook then hit him on the head with a knife and kicked and stamped on his body as he lay on the ground.

The court heard how Reilly rifled through his pockets while Cook picked up a bottle and hit him on the head.

Alastair tried to stand up but was pushed back down by Cook and stabbed in the chest.

Alastair managed to get up and head to his home. He got up the communal stairs, but collapsed at his door.

His friend was worried when he had not heard from him. The man went to Alastair’s home and found him lying at his door.

A 999 call was made, but paramedics could not revive him.

Alastair also had defensive-type injuries from trying to fight his attackers off.

The pair were later arrested separately. Reilly had initially denied any involvement.

Cook’s KC Brian McConnachie said: “From the material disclosed, this seems to have been a robbery gone terribly, badly wrong.

“So far as Mr Cook’s record, it is an unenviable one. There can be no excuse for what happened on the day in question.”

Lord Harrower told the killers that Alastair’s two sisters had penned “moving” impact statements.

They described how “special” he was to them and of the “terrible devastation” inflicted on the wider family.

Lord Harrower said it appeared it was the victim’s “misfortune” to find himself in the same area as the thugs that night.

He told them: “CCTV show you following him. He parted company with his friend. At that moment, you seized the opportunity of him being alone in order to catch up to carry out a sustained, vicious and cowardly assault.”