AN unemployed man has been found guilty of killing an 88-year-old war veteran after targeting him in a robbery bid.
James Duguid preyed on his registered blind victim John Gillespie after he went out for a walk. He confronted him and demanded: "Gie's your wallet."
The former Royal Navy sailor, who was mentioned in despatches for his conduct in the Second World War, resisted the robbery attempt. But his attacker seized his walking stick and struck him with it. Mr Gillespie fell and broke his hip. He died six days later in hospital on his 64th wedding anniversary.
Duguid, 51, stood trial at the High Court in Edinburgh after denying murdering Mr Gillespie during the attack on April 19 last year at a pedestrian underpass in Stirling.
The jury convicted him of the lesser charge of culpable homicide.
He was also convicted of attempting to defeat the ends of justice by disposing of the stick which was later found in undergrowth.
Duguid, of Raploch, in Stirling, had been on bail throughout his trial.
Advocate depute Alex Prentice QC told the court: "Mr Gillespie was a man who was very proud of his extended family and was much loved by them."
The judge, Lady Scott, said: "A sentence of imprisonment is inevitable."
She continued the case for the preparation of reports and remanded him in custody ahead of sentencing next month.
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