Pair admit brutal Burnbank murder

Sep 23 2010 by Chris Clements, Hamilton Advertiser

TWO men killed a feared criminal who had been cleared of attacking a woman and her daughter.

John Holland and Peter Burns stabbed William Downie 23 times after chasing him into a garden in Burnbank, Hamilton, in April.

Burns had vowed revenge on Downie (28), who had been acquitted of attacking his wife and daughter.

The 41-year-old took his chance when his daughter called to say she had seen him.

Burns and Holland (40) yesterday (Wednesday) admitted a murder charge when they appeared at the High Court in Glasgow.

The pair now face life sentences when they return to the dock in November.

The court heard how Downie had walked free in February last year having been accused of assaulting Burns' wife Michelle and his daughter Linsey.

John Scullion, prosecuting, said Burns, of Mallard Crescent, East Kilbride, claimed he was going to attack Downie given the opportunity.

On April 17 this year, Linsey Burns spotted Downie in Hamilton at around 7.45pm.

She called her father and told him: “That b*****d is walking along Burnbank as well. I hate him.”

Burns – who had been in a bar with Holland – replied: “We'll be up”.

When the armed duo arrived, Miss Burns told them Downie was in woodland off the town's Udston Road.

The court heard they then confronted Downie who was sitting with a group of youths.

Holland, of Auchinraith Avenue, Hamilton, pulled out a knife before Downie raced off as the pair gave chase.

He tried to escape into a garden in nearby Russell Street, but fell when he got his foot stuck in a fence.

Burns and Holland caught up and then repeatedly struck Downie with the blades in a “chopping motion”.

Downie was flung against the fence as he pleaded: “I'm sorry, I'm sorry”.

Burns and Holland continued the frenzied attack before leaving in Linsey Burns' friend's car.

Mr Scullion told the court: “As the accused entered the vehicle, one of them was heard to say 'he's dead'.”

Horrified witnesses dialled 999. Paramedics treated Downie, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Downie suffered at least 23 stab wounds and was fatally knifed in the heart.

The court heard residents who witnessed the attack “no longer feel safe living in the area”.

Downie had an extensive criminal record prior to his death including offences for assault, robbery, drugs and theft.

The heroin addict was jailed for three years in 2007 for a brutal assault and robbery on a student.

Holland's QC Neil Murray told the court Downie was “a man to be feared and was a man that was feared.”

Judge Lord Tyre deferred sentence until November 4 at the High Court in Edinburgh.