Couple jailed over 'frenzied' knife murder in Paisley tower block

BBC News

4 days ago

A former couple have been jailed for the "frenzied" knife murder of a man after an argument broke out in a tower block.Robert Fisher, 26, was found critically injured in a flat in Maxwellton Street, Paisley, on 23 July 2023 and died in hospital four days later. Cameron Woods, 27, and Stacey Balfour, 24, who were together at the time, were found guilty at the High Court in Glasgow last month. Prosecutors said Woods fatally stabbed Mr Fisher while his then partner Balfour was "acting in concert" as she knew there would be violence.
Woods was jailed for a minimum 18-and-a-half years and Balfour for 16 years.The trial had earlier been told all three had been in a flat with other people in the Renfrewshire town. During this time a witness said Woods had been spotted with a large kitchen knife.Meanwhile, Balfour had shown someone a small lockback blade - attached to a set of keys - which was later used in the fatal attack.The court heard it was launched after the atmosphere between the group in the flat became "volatile".Prosecutor Erin Campbell said it was clear "the situation escalated" and eventually led to Mr Fisher being stabbed "in what amounted to a murderous attack".The victim managed to stagger out of the flat with blood on his face and on his t-shirt.A man dialled 999 as Mr Fisher groaned in the background: "I have been stabbed."He was taken to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow, where he later died.
During the trial, the court heard Mr Fisher had five separate stab wounds and possible defensive injuries.Ms Campbell told the jury: "If you are trying to strike someone in the head or chest then there are only two possibilities."Either you are deliberately trying to kill the person."Or you are so angry and wild in the moment, you have total disregard if the person lives or dies."The advocate depute told the court Mr Fisher had been subjected to a "frenzied attack".Woods was later stopped by police at a cycle track and found to be in possession of the murder weapon, with Mr Fisher's blood on it.Balfour initially told police she had last seen the victim when he left the flat with another man.Donald Findlay KC, defending Woods, said "no one set out looking for trouble". "Something clearly happened which led to a conflict. "There was a reaction to something."Balfour's KC Thomas Ross said she had previously suffered a "traumatic" incident in 2014 and a had been in a "toxic relationship" before the killing.