Pair laughed and posed for selfie after murdering man in Irvine street attack

Two men laughed and celebrated after they murdered a dad in a street attack.

Simon Roberts, 38, and Sean McKie, 37, pounced on Malcolm McCandlish, 43, in Irvine in September 2024.

Malcolm and his sister’s partner had approached the pair after McKie had earlier slapped his sibling.

The dad-of-one was punched to the ground by Roberts before the pair knocked the other man unconscious.

Roberts continued the attack upon Malcolm by repeatedly headbutting him before McKie kicked him on the head.

Smiling Roberts went on to slap McKie on the back as they walked away after he imitated the kick he had just carried out.

The two men then posed for a smiling selfie in a pub, which was uploaded to social media 30 minutes later.

Roberts and McKie face a life sentence after they were found guilty at the High Court in Glasgow of murdering Malcolm McCandlish.

They were also convicted of assaulting the second victim, resulting in his permanent disfigurement.

In describing the pair leaving the scene, the advocate depute stated a “smile” could be seen from under Roberts’ cap.

There was also evidence led of Roberts “laughing” at press reports of McKie being granted bail after an initial court hearing.

Roberts himself in a message to his mother said that he was “expecting to get a sentence” for his own part in the attack.

In explaining a motive for the attack, Mr McIntosh said: “These were two men looking out looking for trouble, behaving like thugs itching for a fight.”

Jurors heard that Malcolm died two weeks later in hospital from a brain injury.

A doctor stated that the injury was “the type clearly caused by the fall and likely sustained when Malcolm hit the ground.”

It was further claimed that Malcolm would have died within days, if not hours, if surgery had not been performed on him.

Roberts, a painter and decorator, in his evidence claimed that he was acting in self-defence.

He claimed that Malcolm “threatened to stab” him and McKie.

When asked by his counsel, Graeme Brown, how he felt when he found out Malcolm had died, Roberts replied: “Devastated. I have still not got over it.”

Mr Brown: “Did you care whether he lived or died?”

Roberts: “Of course.”

It was revealed that Roberts has five previous convictions for assault, which include severe injury and permanent disfigurement, involving the use of a knife.

He was last jailed for 14 months in 2021 for an assault which involved a blunt object.

McKie has four previous convictions for assault, which included a 2011 case involving the use of knives.

Sentence was deferred pending background reports until next month by Judge Lady Drummond.

She said: “There is only one sentence for murder, which is life imprisonment, which is what I will be imposing.”

The two men showed no emotion as their remand in custody was continued.