Police ScotlandA teenager stabbed a man to death after masked men confronted him at his home with a machete.
Jaxon Millar, then 19, struck Robert McNally, 21, on January 18 last year.
The High Court in Glasgow heard that the two men were known to each other but were not friends.
It was stated that the background was that Mr McNally and his friends were annoyed that a woman known to Millar had given a police statement regarding domestic abuse allegations.
This led to someone being held in custody, and the group wanted to speak to Millar, now aged 20, about it.
Mr McNally’s friends attended Millar’s home that day and had an argument with him.
The victim was later informed by his friends what had happened, which made him angry.
The three men who were masked drove to Millar’s home while masked, with Mr McNally armed with a machete, and an associate had a hatchet.
Mr McNally repeatedly banged on the door with the knife before Millar threw fireworks at the three men from an upstairs window.
The victim and the two others ran into Millar’s flat for 30 to 60 seconds before they exited the property.
One of the men started to smash Millar’s car and was then joined by Mr McNally.
Millar ran out of his home and chased after the victim before stabbing him once in the back.
Prosecutor Greg Farrell said: “The other man, who was armed, ran back, and a brief altercation took place amongst the three men.
“Mr McNally had got back to his feet.
“During the altercation, Millar was struck on the side of the face with a hatchet.”
Millar ran back into his house as Mr McNally and the other man walked off.
The victim then collapsed to the ground as the other man tried to give first aid and shouted for help.
The knife and hatchet used by them were later recovered.
Mr McNally did not survive, with his cause of death stated to be ‘stab wound to chest’.
Millar, of Lochwinnoch, pleaded guilty to culpable homicide after he was initially charged with murder.
John Scullion KC, defending, told the court: “The situation was Mr Millar was in his own home, minding his own business.
“Those who attended were there to intimidate and assault him.
“These were people who were known for significant acts of violence and were there to inflict acts of violence on him.
“These are the circumstances to which he reacted, and he immediately tried to deter them with fireworks.”
The sentence was deferred pending background reports until next month by Judge Lord Mulholland.
The judge told him: “This tit-for-tat violence only ends up in tragedy and where you are today.
“It is inevitable that you will be sentenced to imprisonment.
“You took the life of another person, and it is a very serious matter. You will be remanded into custody.”
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