A “devoted” Aberdeen dad who offered to help a homeless man had his kindness repaid by brutal violence when he was stabbed more than 40 times.
Vicious Stuart Quinn, 35, knifed Alan Geddes at the victim’s city home before boasting to police about the horrific murder.
Quinn – who had only been released from jail the day before the killing – pled guilty to a murder charge at the High Court in Glasgow and was jailed for a minimum of 18 years.
The court heard of Quinn’s movements in the hours leading up to his fateful meeting with Mr Geddes, 56.
He was said to be “upset and crying” on being released from jail in Peterhead as he had been due to receive help for personal issues.
He travelled south to a homeless unit in Aberdeen only to find it was shut.
After going to a pub, he ended up in the Private Eyes lap dancing club in the city.
The court heard Mr Geddes was also there with a friend. He ended up chatting with Quinn before the pair left together.
Mr Geddes initially offered to pay for Quinn to stay at the Copthorne Hotel in Aberdeen for the night, but it was full.
Mr Geddes – who was previously a model based in Europe before working offshore – then allowed Quinn into his flat in the city’s Ruthrieston Crescent.
Prosecutor Bernard Ablett said the Crown was unaware what happened there until around 5.35am.
He said: “Neighbours were awoken by the sound of incoherent shouting and banging on railings in the communal hall.”
One resident then heard Quinn yelling: “Call the police…there’s been a killing.”
The victim meantime was clocked lying at the bottom of stairs.
He never survived having suffered “multiple and significant” injuries.
Police arrived to find a blood-stained Quinn clutching a lock-knife, which he threw down.
He stated: “I am not going to lie boys…I stabbed him.”
The officers found numerous pools of blood between the ground and first floor of the building.
After being taken to a police station, sick Quinn boasted: “I cut the right arteries. He is dead.”
Quinn added he had “nowhere to stay” after being freed from jail and that Mr Geddes had offered him the chance to spend the night at his.
He also claimed Mr Geddes then appeared to “almost show off” a collection of knives at the flat making him feel “threatened”.
Quinn initially stated he had stabbed Mr Geddes in “self defence”.
But, the court was told the unmarried dad suffered 40 wounds including damage to his carotid artery and jugular vein.
He also had injuries suggesting he tried to “ward off” the killer.
Quinn’s lawyer said he had been working offshore before an attack overseas “forever changed him”.
He turned to crime at the age of 30 as well as drink and drugs.
Krista Johnston, defending, added Quinn “perceived to be under threat” at the victim’s flat and had claimed to police there was a man upstairs “with a gun”.
The hearing was told Quinn had four convictions for assault.
He was sentenced to four months in jail the day before the killing – but the term was back-dated meaning he was freed.
She added Quinn’s reaction had been “disproportionate”.
Quinn told judge Lady Stacey he was “sorry” as she sentenced him.
She told the killer: “You took advantage of Mr Geddes, who let you into his own home because you had nowhere to go.
“This led to him meeting a very violent death at your hands.”
She reduced the jail-term from 19 years due to his guilty plea.
After the killing, Mr Geddes’s family released a statement saying: “Alan was a devoted dad, brother, uncle and friend.
“He will be remembered for his selfless loving nature and will be sorely missed by all.”
Detective Chief Inspector Carron McKellar, the Senior Investigating Officer in this case, said: “Stuart Quinn repaid Alan’s kindness with brutal violence, and he has finally admitted his guilt.
“Alan’s family has been devastated by his death and my thoughts are with them, and especially with his young son, at this time.”
