Man Who Stabbed Best Friend 'Cannot Remember Killing'

A man who is facing a possible life sentence for stabbing his best friend to death cannot remember the killing.

Londonderry Crown Court heard yesterday that alcoholic Leon Robert Paul Johnston was suffering from an abnormality of the mind when he stabbed Michael McLaughlin four times.

Defence and prosecution psychiatrists agreed that Johnston suffered from a recognised mental condition that impaired his ability to control his actions.

On the night in question, 24-year-old Mr McLaughlin got home with a group of people and found Johnston sleeping in the front room of his flat near Castledawson.

Johnston, who had been drinking for four days, awoke from time to time but what he said made no sense to those in the room.

After some time he and Mr McLaughlin had a fist-fight and following a later dispute Johnston went into the kitchen and came back with a knife.

When police stopped Johnston he said: "It was me. I did it. Arrest me."

But when he sobered up, he said he had no memory of carrying out the attack.

A post mortem examination showed that the fourth of four stab wounds killed Mr McLaughlin by puncturing a lung and severing a major artery.

Johnston, 26, from Ballydugenna Villas in Toomebridge pleaded guilty to manslaughter.

Defence QC James Gallagher said his client was "deeply remorseful" and had been "pathetically drunk" on the day of the stabbing.

The judge has adjourned sentencing until September, saying it is a "highly technical" case and sentencing remarks should be set down in writing.

(NE)