Four jailed for 'punishment beating' murder in Dundee

Three men and a woman who murdered a Dundee man in what prosecutors called a 'punishment beating' have each been jailed for at least 20 years.

Carri Stewart, 44, and her new partner Brian Millar, 29, along with Barry Murray, 45, and Scott Henderson, 40, killed Steven Hutton after bursting into his home in Charleston Road on March 2024.

A trial was told the 43-year-old, who was previously in a relationship with Stewart, was hit by a hammer before being stabbed in the heart.

All four denied murder, but were convicted following a trial at the High Court in Glasgow.

Following the verdict, the court was told the gang had more than 100 convictions between them.

The trial heard that Mr Hutton was blamed for allegedly stealing from Stewart's flat in the city and taking medication and a St Christopher's necklace.

He never recovered from his injuries and died the next day at Ninewells Hospital.

Judge Lady Haldane told the group that their victim had been subjected to a "frenzied assault" in his own home.

The judge said: "He lost his life in these horrific circumstances.

"It was compounded that not one of you sought to seek assistance as he lay dying until you were all well clear of the property.

"That is behaviour which can only be described as a callous."

A plan to attack Mr Hutton was hatched after Stewart and her new partner Millar returned to her flat to find the door ajar.

A number of items were said to be missing including a packets of tablets.

Co-accused Henderson and Murray were initially blamed for the theft, before Mr Hutton was deemed to be the culprit.

The four teamed up to force their way into his flat late at night.

Mr Hutton had been lying on the couch and was initially hit with a hammer.

There were threats of "kneecapping" Mr Hutton, who was then stabbed.

The gang then fled the scene.

Stewart denied organising the ambush, telling jurors: "I was not in charge of anything."

In his testimony, Henderson blamed Stewart for the attack.

Prosecutor Liam Ewing KC put to him that Mr Hutton had been "cornered" by the killers in his own home.

Denying he killed Mr Hutton, he later told the trial: "I did not realise how serious it was until he opened his jacket and the blood came out.

"As soon as he did that, I knew that I had to get out of it. I just wanted out that house."

Millar stated in his evidence that Stewart had been "a bit angry" when she found items were missing from her flat.

Asked why he thought they were then going to Mr Hutton's home, Millar told the court: "Obviously to have a conversation with him."

He added: "I did not think there was going to be any violence."

He denied being armed with a knife and said that he had only kicked the front door.

The court heard Stewart had been "going mental" shouting at Mr Hutton.

He alleged Mr Hutton "tried to go" for Stewart at one stage before he realised the man was badly hurt.

Asked by his lawyer Jim Keegan KC who had stabbed Mr Hutton, Millar claimed: "It could only have been Carri. It was only Carri in the kitchen with him."

Millar later denied a claim it was "an easy fit" to blame Stewart for what happened.

Advocate depute Mr Ewing suggested to Millar that Mr Hutton initially being attacked with the hammer was "a punishment beating" as part of the killing.

Judge Lady Haldane paid tribute to Mr Hutton's grieving family, adding his mother had penned a "moving" victim impact statement about her loss.