Carer who killed frail man jailed
A carer from Edinburgh who killed a frail 53-year-old man after a row over gambling has been jailed for 52 months.
Andrew Harvey, 34, battered gambling-addict Christopher Gilruth to death at their home in Roseburn Terrace in the Murrayfield area on 11 May last year.
Harvey, who was Mr Gilruth's carer, launched the attack after hearing he had lost all the money put aside to pay the electricity bill.
He caused 33 injuries to Mr Gilruth's face, head and body by punching.
The High Court in Glasgow heard that Harvey was immediately remorseful and police who arrive at the flat found him trying to give CPR to Mr Gilruth.
Harvey, who was originally charged with murder, pleaded guilty to the reduced charge of culpable homicide.
The court heard the victim and Harvey referred to each other as "uncle" and "nephew" although they were not related.
Mr Gilruth had serious health problems and had emphysema.
Advocate depute Jim Keegan QC, prosecuting said: "He could have died from respiratory failure at any point."
The prosecutor said Mr Gilruth was vulnerable because of his health issues and "far more likely to succumb to injuries that would not prove fatal in a healthy adult male".
Defence counsel Brian McConnachie QC said: "There had been an argument over a few days about money. Mr Gilruth had gambled away money that was to be used to pay the electricity bill."
Judge Lady Wolffe told Harvey: "Your victim was a much older man who was physically frail and to an extent dependent on you. I accept you are grief-ridden."
She added that but for his early plea of guilty he would have been jailed for six years and six months.
Det Insp Raymond Brown, who led the investigation into the death, later said: "Andrew Harvey was responsible for the death of a vulnerable man whose goodwill and kindness provided him with a home.
"He breached this and subjected Christopher Gilruth to a violent attack, which ultimately led to his death.
"My thoughts are with Mr Gilruth's family and I sincerely hope that today's sentence brings some form of closure for them."