A Dundee man who bludgeoned his next-door neighbour to death with part of a guitar has died suddenly in jail.
A fatal accident inquiry is to be held into the death of 45-year-old Albert Cosgrove at Perth Prison.
Cosgrove was given a life sentence after he was found guilty of murdering Victor Cole, 44, at Shepherd’s Loan in the West End in August 1989.
Mr Cole was said to have been repeatedly kicked and punched on the head and body and struck on the head, neck, body, hands and arms with the neck of a guitar in the attack.
Cosgrove’s victim was a country and western music enthusiast and had kept the long neck of a guitar as a decoration on his wall.
Cosgrove used it as a weapon after accusing his neighbour of being a child molester with a prison record.
With Mr Cole lying in a bloodied mess following the assault, Cosgrove said: “Never mind. Blood’s nothing. He’ll be OK in the morning.”
The injuries inflicted on Mr Cole were described as “horrific” at the trial.
He had numerous fractures to his face and skull and his brain was protruding from a five-inch gap in his head.
Cosgrove was released on life licence in May 2005 and spent time living at the East Port Bail Hostel in King Street.
In 2012 he was rushed to intensive care after a suspected drug overdose.
He was imprisoned at HMP Perth in April last year after being convicted of theft at Dundee Sheriff Court.
A spokeswoman for the Scottish Prison Service confirmed Cosgrove had died at HMP Perth.
She said: “Police Scotland have been advised and the matter will be reported to the procurator fiscal. Next of kin have been informed and a fatal accident inquiry will be held in due course.”