JOHN-PAUL MCLAUGHLIN SENTENCED TO LIFE FOR BRUTAL MURDER IN AIRDRIE

A man from Airdrie has been handed a life sentence after being found guilty of the murder of his partner in North Lanarkshire. John-Paul McLaughlin, aged 53, pleaded guilty to the killing of 51-year-old Stacey Warnock at their shared residence on Barra Drive, Airdrie, in December 2022.

During the court proceedings, it was revealed that McLaughlin, who works as a construction worker, was overwhelmed with emotion as prosecutors detailed the extent of the violence inflicted upon Ms. Warnock. The victim sustained at least 58 injuries across her head, neck, and body, indicating a sustained and vicious assault. Her body was discovered in the bathtub of their home several days after her death, only coming to the attention of concerned colleagues who visited the property.

The relationship between McLaughlin and Ms. Warnock had been tumultuous, characterized by on-and-off periods since 1998. The couple had been living together since 2014. On the night of December 16, 2022, a delivery driver who was making a supermarket delivery confirmed that both individuals were present at the residence. The following morning, a neighbor reported hearing a loud thump followed by an eerie silence, which raised suspicions.

Throughout that weekend, McLaughlin’s appearance was notably disheveled, and he sent a series of disturbing messages to a colleague. These messages implied that he had taken Stacey’s life and suggested he was contemplating ending his own life as well. The situation escalated when, on December 20, two of his work colleagues visited the home and found McLaughlin. During their visit, he shockingly told them, “I need a lawyer. She is dead. She has been dead since Saturday. Do not phone the police until I get my defence sorted.”

Later, McLaughlin confessed to police officers, stating, “I did it… I killed my soulmate. I’ve not hidden anything. The clothes are in the bedroom. I have nothing to hide.” Investigators recovered a knife believed to be the murder weapon from his bedside drawer. Initially, McLaughlin claimed that he acted in self-defense, asserting that Stacey had thrown an iron at him during an argument. However, his lawyer highlighted that McLaughlin had no clear memory of the actual killing, only recalling a vague altercation.

The judge, Lord Doherty, described the attack as “brutal, merciless and sustained,” emphasizing the severity of the crime. Although McLaughlin initially faced a potential minimum sentence of 19 years, his guilty plea resulted in a reduced minimum term of 17 years.

Detective Inspector Campbell Jackson characterized the murder as a “horrendous and brutal attack,” expressing hope that the conviction would bring some measure of closure to Ms. Warnock’s family and loved ones. The case has left a lasting impact on the community of Airdrie and serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of domestic violence.