Saltcoats dad died of a stab wound to the heart

Pathologist Julie McAdam told the High Court in Glasgow that the 22-year-old died from massive blood loss.

She was giving evidence at the trial of Stuart McCulloch, 18, from Saltcoats, Fergal Morgan, 22, from Glasgow, and Allan Carey, 19, from Ardrossan.

Charges of murder against Morgan were withdrawn yesterday.

McCulloch and Carey deny murdering Samuel by striking him on the chest with a knife at 36 Parkend Gardens, Saltcoats, on October 25 or 26, last year. Carey also denies punching Ross Johnston on the head and striking him with a bottle.

Labourer Roberto Narducci, 20, said in evidence that he spoke to Carey on the phone on the morning of October 26.

He was asked by advocate depute Sheena Fraser, prosecuting: “What did he say to you,” and Narducci replied: “I said what’s up and he said ‘I’ve stabbed Sam Johnston.’ “I said ‘what do you mean?’ because they were all friends.

"He said he stabbed him and then said he never stabbed him.

"He said this back and forth two or three times.” Mr  Narducci added: “He said ‘I’ve stabbed Sam Johnnston and then he said he had only battered him.” He agreed that he had told police that Carey said: “He had been getting lippy for weeks he had it coming.” Defence QC Gordon Jackson, defending Carey, said: “When you spoke to Mr Carey he sounded drunk.

"He was saying he stabbed someone and then saying he didn’t.

"You must have thought this is a load of rubbish,” and Mr Narducci replied: “Yes.” Earlier, Taylor Donohoe, 19, who was at the party in the flat in Saltcoats, said that there was a fight in the living room and Mr  Johnston’s brother Ross had an injury to his forehead.

She said: “Sam was angry.

"He said it was out of order what had happened to his wee brother.” The jury was told she tended to Ross Johnston’s injury and the next time she saw Samuel Johnston there was blood coming from a wound to his chest.

Miss Donohoe sobbed as she said: “Sam left the living room and I don’t know where he went but he came back and he lifted his t-shirt.

"The blood was pouring out of him.

"I didn’t see a wound I just saw it pouring out.” She said that he then collapsed to the floor and added: “I rushed over with a towel and pushed down on the wound.

"Ross was screaming ‘Sam’ then Sam started like snoring and his head went from side to side and then he stopped.” The court heard that an ambulance was called and Mr Johnston was taken to hospital.

Miss Donohoe told the jury she received a text mesage from Morgan around 2am on October 26 as she sat in the bedroom of the flat which said: “What the f*** just happened with us.” She said: “I replied after a few minutes saying ‘Sam is out cold. Someone stabbed him'.” Later that morning, after she returned from the police station, Miss Donohoe said she received another message from Morgan. It said: “Uffffft cannae have a quiet night wae oot the blades coming oot.” Along with the message was a photograph of McCulloch, Morgan and Carey taken on a couch in the living room of the flat in Parkend Gardens the previous night.

About 8am  she said she received a text message from Carey which said: “Ross and Sam awrite?”  and she replied:“Allan Sam is dead.” Carey then sent another message saying: “Shutupppp,” and she replied: “What the f*** would I lie man a sat trying to wake him up.” The next mesage from Carey was: “How do u know hees dead????” The trial continues.