The heartbroken family of a man who died during a knife fight have said they were “devastated” at his killer’s sentence.
Arran Fender was jailed for 12 years after being found guilty of the killing of Gary McMillan by a jury at the High Court in Edinburgh.
During sentencing, Fender’s violent criminal past was revealed, with his record including three convictions for carrying a knife and three assaults — one of which involved the use of a knife.
Fender, 31, was charged with the murder of Mr McMillan, 44, in May last year.
However, he was instead found guilty of the reduced charge of culpable homicide.
The 14-person jury found Fender, a prisoner at HM Prison Perth, guilty of the charge by majority decision after four hours of deliberation.
A unanimously guilty verdict to a charge of possessing a knife in a public place on May 15 was also returned.
A spokeswoman for the family said: “We are heartbroken and devastated at the sentence.”
Judge Lady Carmichael said culpable homicide encompassed a variety of situations, adding: “From those involving very little violence, and very little culpability, to those which involve considerable violence, and much greater culpability. In this instance, it involved the use of a knife to take the life of another man, and the infliction of four substantial wounds.”
She said the loss would continue to be felt deeply by his family, adding: “No sentence I can pronounce can repair the harm that they have suffered as a result of his death.”
His 12-year sentence was backdated to May. Detective Inspector Ged Fitzpatrick, of Police Scotland’s major investigation team, said: “I’d like to offer my condolences to Gary McMillan’s family and friends.
“Although it will never change what happened, I sincerely hope the verdict brings some form of closure for them.
“This was an extensive inquiry which used the full resources of Police Scotland, including local officers from Dundee, the major investigation team, operational support division and forensics.
“I would also like to pay thanks to the local community for their assistance.”
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