A convicted criminal who was wearing an electronic monitoring tag has been jailed for life at the High Court in Edinburgh after savagely beating a man and leaving him to die.

David Hart, 21, killed Christopher Rooney in a drunken frenzy, leaving him with 79 injuries. Hart’s 19-year-old brother, Ryan, has already been certified insane and sent to Carstairs high security state hospital for his role in the attack.

Hart had been granted bail three times at Hamilton Sheriff Court — the most recent five days before the murder. He was also freed on a bail order the same day at Motherwell District Court. Among the offences he was bailed for was carrying a knife, breach of the peace and vandalism.

The victim suffered a haemorrhage and blood built up round his brain after he was repeatedly punched, kicked, stamped and jumped on in Wishaw, Lanarkshire. Defence counsel Ian Duguid, QC, said Hart, a former milkman, and his brother had been drinking.Temporary Judge Rita Rae, QC, said: “The excessive use of alcohol is not an excuse.”

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