Murderer told police he should be 'shot in the head' for stabbing a grandmother
57-year old William Finlay stabbed 47-year old Fiona Canning 47 times in Falkirk last November
Last updated 14th Oct 2019
A murderer told police that he should be 'shot in the head' after stabbing a grandmother 47 times. William Finlay, 57, added that he was pushed to his limits and can't apologise for killing someone.
Finlay stated the gruesome assault on Fiona Canning/McDonald, 44, at her flat in November last year was “revenge.”
Finlay believed Miss Canning had been “rinsing him” of a £10,000 pension payment.
He pleaded guilty on Friday at the High Court in Glasgow to the murder of Miss Canning in Camelon, Falkirk.
The facts were read out today in his deferred sentence.
The court heard the pair were neighbours who would often violently argue.
Finlay, an ex-electronics worker, had received a £10,000 pension payment in March last year but was left with £300 a few months later.
Prosecutor Margaret Barron said: “He stated to witnesses that Miss Canning had been 'rinsing him' and was constantly asking for money.”
Finlay was heard inside Miss Canning's flat by a neighbour on the night of her death.
Finlay went to a friend's house later that day covered in blood and confessed to murdering Miss Canning.
The friend dialled 999 and reported Finlay to the police after he left his house.
On the way back, other neighbours seen Finlay and asked what he had done, he replied: “I've just murdered Fiona.”
The neighbours raced to Miss Canning's flat and saw her seated on her couch “just staring into the sky.”
Miss Canning had “blood all over her body, around her chest and her face was dripping too.”
When the neighbours returned to Finlay he shouted: “I've murdered her, I've done her, I've murdered Fiona.”
Ambulance crews arrived and failed to revive Miss Canning using CPR.
Police found a small kitchen knife near to her couch which was covered in blood.
Officers arrested then Finlay at inside his flat and he was cautioned.
He replied: “Junkies bothering me, that's why I got my revenge.
“I took it out on a poor woman who robbed me for thousands of pounds.
“I deserve to be shot in the head for what I've done tonight.
“I apologise for doing it, but you can't apologise for killing someone - this is what happens when you get pushed to the limits.”
A post-mortem examination carried out on Miss Canning showed she received 70 individual sharp force injuries to the body.
Miss Barron added: “At least 49 were stab wounds with two of these later found to be related to medical intervention.”
The majority of the wounds were to Miss Canning's chest, neck and heart.
Judge Lady Stacey deferred sentence for reports until next month.
Finlay, from Falkirk, was remanded in the meantime.
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