Man killed stepbrother with drugs

A man gave his stepbrother the ecstasy tablets that killed him, a court heard.

Robert Smith from Stranraer, who was facing years behind bars, was given a 12-month sentence by a judge at the High Court in Glasgow.

Smith, 21, had pleaded guilty to the culpable homicide of his 17-year-old stepbrother Gavin.

The judge was told that Smith did not know his brother, who died from acute ecstasy poisoning, had already taken 20 tablets over the previous days.

Smith gave his Gavin three tablets at a house in Stranraer in May last year.

He loved Gavin and would never have done anything to harm him Frances Connor Defence lawyer

The court heard that the teenager had been seen taking ecstasy and alcohol at a party the night before.

Slapping Gavin on the face and shaking him failed to wake him after he had taken the tablets and the teenager's lips started to turn blue.

He was declared dead at Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary.

Tests revealed he must have taken 23 tablets to attain the level of the drug found in his blood.

Accused 'traumatised'

Frances Connor, defending, said: "My client has been traumatised by the death of his brother.

"Robert Smith had eight brothers and three sisters. Gavin was the closest to him in age and was, he tells me, his best friend.

"They had the same father and spent a lot of time together."

The lawyer added: "Robert Smith has to live with the responsibility for causing the death of his brother and best friend.

"He told me he loved Gavin and would never have done anything to harm him."