A one-eyed science fiction fan who repeatedly plunged a “vampire skull” sword into his victim has lost a legal bid to have his sentence cut.
Adrian Hynd, 52, was jailed for life after being convicted last year of murdering Alexander Forbes with the 18-inch blade in Kirkcaldy on January 2 2017.
The High Court in Edinburgh heard how Mr Forbes, 25, suffered more than 100 wounds after being struck with the fantasy weapon at Hynd’s home.
Judge Lord Ericht imposed a minimum sentence of 18 years on Hynd, who is serving his sentence at Glenochil Prison in Stirlingshire.
Hynd’s counsel Mark Stewart QC argued before judges at the Court of Criminal Appeal in Edinburgh that the term imposed on his client was too lengthy.
He said that Mr Hynd sustained injuries during the incident which were defensive in nature and showed that he had come under attack.
However, judges Lady Dorrian, Lord Malcolm and Lord Menzies rejected Mr Stewart’s submissions.
Lady Dorrian said: “We cannot say this sentence was excessive and for this reason the appeal must fall.”
The trial at the High Court in Edinburgh heard that Hynd, an operations manager for a cleaning firm, started fighting with Mr Forbes. He then repeatedly stabbed him.
A pathologist found more than 100 injuries on Mr Forbes’ body. Tests found cocaine in the dead man’s blood and enough alcohol to put him at seven times the drink-driving limit.
Hynd claimed he was acting in self-defence.
However, jurors rejected his claims and convicted him of murder.
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