Two drug-addled killers ran to their grandmothers’ homes after stabbing a Dundee dad to death in an unprovoked attack over Valium.
Thomas Henderson plunged a knife into Lee Small’s neck after arranging with Michael King to rob the father-of-two of cash and drugs in September 2021.
Mr Small, 40, died within a few minutes of the vicious assault, after suffering an “un-survivable wound” to the left side of his neck, just underneath his ear.
Both men were told to expect lengthy sentences during a hearing at the High Court in Dundee.
Shadow boxing
The pair were caught on CCTV at a number of places between Henderson’s Mid-Craigie home and Mr Small’s house in Ballindean Terrace.
King and Henderson had been drinking Budweiser and consuming drugs during a “four day bender”, during which they plotted to rob Mr Small.
Henderson prepared a knife, wrapping the handle of the 85mm weapon in pink medical tape, before walking to their victim’s home under the illusion they wanted to buy drugs from him.
CCTV video taken at Happyhillock shops caught the men “shadow boxing, as if preparing for an altercation”, prosecutor Chris Fyffe KC told the court.
“Camera footage showed the pair arriving at Mr Small’s home, then running away a short time later,” he added.
“At around 2.40pm the deceased Mr Small and Gary McKinney (who was living with him at the time) were in the locus on Ballindean Terrace, in the living room.
“The buzzer was rung and Mr Small went to the door with a baseball bat.
“Mr Small allowed King and Henderson to enter.”
He said: “King and Mr Small began arguing. King punched Mr Small on the face.
“Thomas Henderson stabbed Mr Small to the left of the neck.
“Both accused ran from the scene.
“The whole incident lasted no more than three minutes.”
Gran’s police statement
The court heard how Henderson disposed of the murder weapon, snapping it in two pieces and dumping it in a bin.
The knife was recovered following King’s arrest, when he divulged what had happened to police. He told them he “wasn’t going down for this” and he had not intended for Mr Small to die.
Prior to his arrest, King went to his grandmother — the late Cecelia Clark — and told her what Henderson had done.
Before her death she gave police a statement telling them this.
Henderson also went to his grandmother’s — Jane Henderson — and told her he “had just stabbed someone”.
Lengthy prison terms
King, 29, admitted culpable homicide, assaulting Lee Small on September 8 2021, repeatedly punching him on the head and body, attempt to rob him of drugs and money and killed him.
Henderson, 32, admitted murdering Lee Small on the same date, stabbing him in the neck with a knife.
Lord Mullholland told each to expect lengthy sentences, adding Henderson would be given a life term.
He said: “I am going to call for reports and sentence you once they are completed on May 31 at the High Court Edinburgh.
“Be under no illusion what is coming to you that day.
“You have given a life sentence to Mr Small’s parents, his sons, his sisters and wife.”
In a statement issued following his death, Mr Small’s family said: “Lee was a much loved son, father, brother, cousin, uncle and friend to many.
“His loss will be sorely felt by us all. We would ask that we are given privacy to come to terms with our loss at this time.”
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