Glasgow, Scotland – Maria Gardiner, Michael Anderson, and James Houston were sentenced to jail after being convicted of the murder of Brian Maley, a grandfather, in his flat in Springburn. The trio brutally attacked Maley, stabbing him with a knife and chisel, resulting in his death on February 8, 2022, as the High Court in Glasgow heard.
During the sentencing, the three individuals were each handed minimum jail terms ranging from 18 to 18.5 years. The judge emphasized that they had planned to harm Maley and brought weapons, leading to a vicious attack that ultimately caused his death. Despite their claims of innocence, the jury found them guilty of being accomplices in the assault that proved fatal.
Houston, in his defense, expressed remorse to Maley’s family and stated that he was unaware of the extent of the planned violence. He maintained that he was led into the situation by Anderson, who had a dispute with Maley and sought to collect something owed to him. Surveillance footage showed the group’s movements on the day of the attack, from Govan to Maley’s residence, armed with a toolbox.
The court also heard that Gardiner and Houston were apprehended at a city center hotel following the incident, spending Valentine’s Day together after the violent assault. Despite the denials from the convicted individuals, the prosecutors highlighted the impact of Maley’s murder on his family, underscoring the loss suffered by his daughters and grandchildren.
In a bid to distance himself from the crime, Houston dismissed a text message discussing a fight as mere bravado and proclaimed his role as an innocent bystander who had been misled by Anderson. However, the prosecution maintained that Maley’s murder was premeditated and that all three defendants played a part in the fatal attack, ensuring that justice was served for the victim and his grieving family.