UPDATE: Four individuals have been convicted in connection with the brutal murder of Steven Hutton in Dundee, following a violent confrontation on March 30, 2024. Carri Stewart, 44; her new partner Brian Millar, 29; and accomplices Barry Murray, 45, and Scott Henderson, 40, were found guilty after a trial at the High Court in Glasgow.
The group stormed into Hutton’s home, delivering a vicious “punishment beating” that started with a hammer assault before culminating in a fatal stab wound to the heart. Prosecutors detailed how the attack was sparked by accusations that Hutton had stolen from Stewart’s flat, including medication and a sentimental necklace.
Hutton, 43, succumbed to his injuries the following day in hospital, unable to recover from the life-threatening assault. The court heard that all four defendants admitted their presence at the crime scene but denied responsibility for the murder itself. Despite their claims, the jury ultimately found them guilty.
Lady Haldane sentenced each to a minimum of 20 years behind bars, citing a history of violent crime among the group, who together had over 100 convictions. The judge condemned the attack as a “frenzied assault” motivated by a missing packet of tablets, emphasizing the callousness of their actions as they fled the scene without seeking help for the dying victim.
The chilling events unfolded when Stewart and Millar returned to her flat to discover the door ajar and several items missing. Under the impression that Hutton was responsible, the pair, alongside their co-accused, plotted the violent confrontation. Henderson and Murray initially attempted to shift blame onto each other during the trial, with Henderson claiming, “I did not realize how serious it was until he opened his jacket and the blood came out. I just wanted out of that house.”
Millar described Stewart as “a bit angry” upon discovering the theft, asserting that they intended only to have a conversation with Hutton. However, the evidence presented painted a darker picture, with threats of further violence and the brutal hammer attack leading to the fatal stabbing.
Lady Haldane expressed her condolences to Hutton’s grieving family and highlighted the emotional impact of the murder. She remarked, “The tragedy of these events is amplified by the fact the genesis of this attack appears to have been a missing packet of medication,” calling the defendants’ behavior “callous” as they left Hutton to die without seeking assistance.
This case underscores the severe consequences of violence and the tragic loss of life stemming from personal grievances. As the community processes this shocking event, the focus now shifts to the long-term impact on Hutton’s family and the need for justice in the face of such brutal crimes.
For updates on this developing story, stay tuned.
