Pair get life for hammer murder

Tracey Hastie was sentenced to life along with co-accused Ian Taylor

A man and woman who murdered a mentally ill man in a hammer attack have each been jailed for at least 18 years at the High Court in Glasgow.

Ian Taylor, 35, and 38-year-old Tracey Hastie, both from Glasgow, were found guilty in July of Brian Sharp's murder.

The pair had blamed each other after the 38-year-old was hit with a hammer more than 80 times at his flat in the city's Milton area in October 2006.

Judge Lord Brailsford told both accused that he had to impose a life sentence.

He said: "This murder was perpetrated on a plainly innocent man - a man with long-standing psychiatric problems.

"The victim appears to have let you both into his home at a time when you were homeless.

The victim appears to have let you both into his home at a time when you were homeless. That act of charity was horrendously abused Lord Brailsford

"That act of charity was horrendously abused. This is a matter of the utmost seriousness."

As the sentence was passed, Hastie broke down and Taylor gave the thumbs-up to family members as he was led to the cells.

The court had earlier heard that Taylor and Hastie met at an addiction rehabilitation centre.

In October 2006, the pair had been drinking with Mr Sharp at his house in north Glasgow when they turned on him.

The jury was told that they taped their victim to a chair, beat him with a hammer at least 80 times, and then stabbed him in the chest with a fork.

Both accused had denied the murder, claiming the other had carried out the attack.