Teenagers Guilty Of Double Killing

11 September 2015, 17:45 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50

Two teenagers have been found guilty of killing two men in separate attacks within two days.

Andrew Moran, 19, was found guilty of murdering Steven Mitchell, 31, and Harry Reekie, 65, police said.

His accomplice Paul Erskine, 19, was also found guilty of murdering Mr Mitchell and of the culpable homicide of Mr Reekie.

The pair assaulted Mr Reekie after breaking into his home in Bathgate, West Lothian, on September 16 last year, police said.

The following day they murdered Mr Mitchell at another house in the town.

Following today's convictions at the High Court in Glasgow, Detective Superintendent Kenny Graham said: ''Paul Erskine and Andrew Moran are vicious killers whose callous actions have cost the lives of two innocent victims.

''My thoughts are today with the friends and relatives of Harry Reekie and Steven Mitchell who have had to endure the most tragic of circumstances.

''Although nothing can ever undo the wicked actions of Moran and Erskine, I hope this verdict brings them some sense of comfort.''

He said CCTV footage from Bathgate town centre showed the pair spending money stolen from Mr Reekie on new clothes and drinking in a pub the day after the attack, while their victim fought for his life in hospital.

The pair are expected to be sentenced next month.