Former Soldier Receives Life Sentence for Tragic Murder of Daughter’s Boyfriend
In a shocking crime that reverberated through the quiet town of Port Glasgow, Inverclyde, Daniel Langman, a former soldier, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the brutal murder of his daughter’s boyfriend, Anthony Collins, 28. The tragic incident took place in Collins’ flat on May 16, 2021, where he was mercilessly struck with a guitar and subsequently strangled to death.
The justice system handed down its verdict on Langman in the High Court of Glasgow, setting the minimum duration of his incarceration at 17 and a half years. Presiding over the case, Lord Fairley communicated the profound impact of the loss on the victim’s family, emphasizing the deep grief experienced by Collins’ older sister and other relatives.
Despite Langman’s military background as a Northern Ireland veteran, Lord Fairley was resolute that his potential release after serving the minimum sentence would not be automatic, but subject to the decision of the Parole Board.
In the aftermath of the tragic event, Langman initially pleaded not guilty. However, the court’s verdict on April 17 found him guilty of murder. Anthony McGovern, 36, another individual implicated in the case, was acquitted due to lack of conclusive evidence.
Langman, 48, claimed during the trial that he “lost control” upon discovering his home in disarray. This alleged loss of control escalated into a violent assault, with Collins being struck multiple times with a guitar and eventually strangled. However, the exact sequence of events remains somewhat murky, with Langman confessing to a “hazy” recollection of the events that transpired.
According to the prosecution, Collins’ death was the result of a cable being tightened around his neck, in addition to being assaulted with various objects including an iron, metal poles, a plastic tube, and a screwdriver.
In a chilling confession, Langman admitted to wrapping the deceased in a duvet, although he denied this act was an attempt to conceal the gruesome scene. Despite the violence of his actions, Langman maintained that he had not intended to end Collins’ life.
The court heard a moving testimony from Langman’s mother, Jennifer Goodwin, 67, who recounted her son’s confession to her over the phone after the incident. Visibly upset and crying, he confessed to having “done something stupid”.
Donald Findlay KC, Langman’s defense attorney, acknowledged his client’s loss of control during the incident, stating that Langman’s actions far exceeded anything he had anticipated.
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