Killers murdered ‘gentle giant’ in street robbery gone wrong

Two serial thugs have admitted murdering a man in a street robbery gone wrong.

James Cook, 49, and Brian Reilly, 37, pounced on Alastair Campbell close to his home in Renfrew in the early hours of October 30, 2023.

The brutal attack, carried out to fund their addictions, left the popular 52-year-old with a fatal stab wound to the abdomen.

A blood-soaked Alastair managed to stagger back to his flat, but only made it to his front door where he was later discovered by a concerned friend.

Cook and Reilly fled the scene but were eventually charged with the killing.

They had been due to stand trial, but admitted their guilt at the High Court in Glasgow.

They were jailed for life today — Cook was ordered to serve a minimum of 16 years and eight months, and Reilly 15 years and nine months.

Both already had appalling criminal records.

The killing was Cook’s fifth High Court conviction, which included a previous prison term for attempted murder.

Reilly also had a violent past featuring offences involving a knife.

Alastair — described as a “gentle big soul” who was well-known in the local area — had been with others at a flat in Renfrew that night.

He and a friend then left and planned to walk to the other man’s home.

En route, the victim decided he would briefly stop alone at his own flat before going to his friend’s.

In the meantime, the killers had been coming and going from the home of Reilly’s girlfriend.

At one stage, Cook was seen sharpening various weapons. The pair were also said to have been “angry” that someone had earlier been at the woman’s door.

CCTV captured them leaving the flat after midnight — both were wearing dark clothes.

Further footage played in court showed Alastair and his friend, around the same time, walking in the street.

At some stage, Cook and Reilly ended up following them.

The victim soon parted from his friend as he headed towards his flat.

Prosecutor Lynsey Rodger then told the court: “Alastair Campbell became aware that there was someone behind him.”

CCTV footage was played during the hearing of the pair then catching up with Alastair on Renfield Street in the town.

There was a large group of the victim’s family and friends in court today. One woman could be heard sobbing as the attack was shown. A man shouted towards the killers in the dock: “Are you watching?”

Ms Rodger said: “They together pushed and pulled Alastair Campbell and he fell to the ground.

“Cook hit him on the head with a knife. Cook then kicked and stamped on his body as he lay on the ground.

“Reilly rifled his pockets. Cook picked up a bottle and hit him on the head.

“Reilly continued to rifle the pockets as Cook stood nearby.

“Alastair Campbell tried to get up, but Cook pushed him back down.

“At some point, he was stabbed in the abdomen.”

A badly hurt Alastair managed to get up and head to his home. He reached the communal stairwell but collapsed at his door.

His friend was worried when he had not heard from him. The man went to Alastair’s home and found him lying at his door.

A 999 call was made, but paramedics could not revive him.

Alastair also had defensive-type injuries from trying to fight his attackers off.

Reilly returned to his partner’s. He was blood-stained and she asked what had happened.

He said he had been involved in something “serious”.

The thugs were later arrested separately. Reilly had initially denied any involvement.

Cook’s KC Brian McConnachie said today: “From the material disclosed, this seems to have been a robbery gone terribly, badly wrong.

“So far as Mr Cook’s record, it is an unenviable one. There can be no excuse for what happened on the day in question.”

The advocate added Cook had started dabbling in drugs from the age of nine and had effectively been in care from a young age.

Gary Allan KC, defending Reilly, said: “He was a man driven by a need to service a drug and drink condition.

“Unfortunately, the events that we are concerned with arose from that.”

Lord Harrower told the killers that Alastair’s two sisters had penned “moving” impact statements.

They described how “special” he was to them and the “terrible devastation” inflicted on the wider family.

Lord Harrower said it appeared it was the victim’s “misfortune” to find himself in the same area as the thugs that night.

As they were being led to the cells, Cook stuck his middle finger up at Alastair’s grieving family sitting in court.

He told them: “CCTV show you following him. He parted company with his friend. At that moment, you seized the opportunity of him being alone in order to catch up to carry out a sustained, vicious and cowardly assault.”

Police Scotland Detective Chief Inspector Graham McCreadie said: “Cook and Reilly will now face the consequences of their actions which led to Alastair’s death.

“I hope this sentence brings Alastair’s family some degree of closure and my thoughts remain with them.

“Violent incidents such as this are not tolerated in our communities and our officers will continue to work tirelessly to bring those responsible to justice.”

Headline image: Alastair Campbell was pronounced dead at the scene
Photo Credit: Issued by Police Scotland