Family campaign to increase sentence of man who killed his own father

Jul 13 2012 by Alison Rennie, Paisley Daily Express

THE devastated family of a man who died after being brutally attacked by his own son have launched a campaign to have the killer’s jail sentence increased.

William Cameron was caged for seven years and one month at the High Court in Glasgow last week after he admitted killing his 51-year-old dad Alexander during a drunken argument at a house in Paisley.

Alexander’s death has left other members of the family heartbroken and they believe Cameron “got off lightly.”

They are now campaigning for a tougher sentence as they “seek justice” for Alexander, who was known as Alec to his friends.

A spokesperson told the Paisley Daily Express: “It’s disgusting that he only got seven years for the brutal murder of his own father.

“We are quite a large family and are all devastated by what has happened.

“Alec was well known in the community and was very popular. He didn’t deserve this.

“He was so badly beaten that he had to be identified by his tattoos.”

Cameron, 27, used two broken bottles to kill his dad during a frenzied attack at a house in Tannahill Road, Ferguslie Park, on August 3, last year.

The court heard that Alexander was struck a total of 19 times by Cameron, who smashed broken glass into his head and neck.

Cameron then left his dead dad lying covered in blood in the living room of the house, with shards of glass around him.

A post-mortem examination later revealed that Alexander had died after suffering a heart attack.

Originally, Cameron was charged with murder but he later admitted culpable homicide and this was accepted by the Crown.

Alexander’s elderly mum and dad, who are both in their 70s, have been left badly traumatised by their son’s death.

Now the grief-stricken family have launched a Facebook campaign called ‘Justice for Alec’.

The spokesperson added: “Alec’s body was found by his friend, who then told Alec’s parents, who lived next door.

“His elderly mother rushed next door and found his bloody and beaten body. They’ve moved now but still suffer flashbacks of seeing their son’s body. It has been hell for them.

“Alec was well known in Paisley through his involvement with the Woodvale and Westpark football teams. There were so many people at his funeral that you couldn’t fit everyone in. It’s disgusting that the charge was reduced to culpable homicide. It should have stayed as a murder charge.”

The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service have confirmed that an appeal against Cameron’s sentence has been lodged by Alexander’s family and a response will be issued “in due course.”