John Fergusson convicted of John Wright hammer murder
A man is facing a life sentence after being convicted of murder over a brutal hammer attack in Renfrewshire.
John Fergusson, 43, battered 51-year-old John Wright with the weapon at a flat in Chestnut Place, Johnstone, on 29 November last year.
The High Court in Glasgow heard how he attacked Mr Wright after the victim had been "sticking up" for Lynn Pearson.
Fergusson told her to say Mr Wright arrived at the flat injured but she told police he carried out the attack.
Ms Pearson told how Mr Wright was bleeding heavily after being attacked, but was still conscious when she went to sleep.
'Stop it' plea
Recalling the assault, she described: "I was just shouting stop it, stop it."
Ms Pearson said she woke up the next morning to find Mr Wright lying on the couch apparently dead.
The court heard claims that Fergusson ordered Ms Pearson to say the victim had arrived the previous evening already hurt.
A call was made to the emergency services, but Mr Wright was pronounced dead at 08:30 that morning.
Ms Pearson recalled how she later spoke to police and "got honest" by admitting what Fergusson had done.
She said: "I broke down crying. He had not come in like that (already injured) - it was John Fergusson who hit him with the hammer."
Prosecutor Paul Kearney asked: "You told police that it was John Fergusson who hit John Wright - why tell the police at that point?"
Ms Pearson: "I felt guilty and that guy got his life taken for sticking up for me."
Ms Pearson denied claims that she was the one who had used the hammer.
Fergusson will be sentenced in September at the High Court in Edinburgh.