A maths student who murdered his friend with a golf club has been jailed for life.Ruaridh Levey bludgeoned Craig McNaught, 49, with the pitching wedge before stabbing him through the heart with the broken shaft.The 41-year-old went on to take photos of his badly beaten victim "triumphant" at what he had done.Levey claimed he had been acting in self-defence during the incident at his home in Tillicoultry, Clacks on March 8 2023.But, he was convicted of murder following the trial at the High Court in Glasgow.Lord Ericht ordered he must serve a minimum of 18 years behind bars for what he described as a "brutal" killing.The men had known each other for around 11 years and lived near each other in the town.On the day of the murder, they ended up at the home of Levey, who studied at Forth Valley College in Alloa, also Clacks.The pair socialised including playing Xbox games, watching YouTube and the WWE Royal Rumble as well as listening to music.In his evidence, Levey said Mr McNaught eventually fell asleep, he sat watching TV before his friend awoke.Moments later, the killer claimed it was Mr McNaught who suddenly grabbed him.Levey: "He started to choke me.
I was crawling on my hands and knees. I remember trying to shake him off."He stated Mr McNaught calmed down before allegedly grabbing the golf club and "whacking" the wedge off the floor breaking it.Levey further claimed the man armed himself with another weapon.He added: "My head was spinning.
I thought I was going to die."Levey told jurors he then picked up the shaft of the broken club to protect himselfHe admitted he must have then stabbed his friend with it during the confrontation, but not deliberately.Levey eventually called an ambulance two hours later.But, only
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