MAN WHO 'BATTERED THE LIFE' OUT OF HIS MOTHER'S EX-PARTNER JAILED
A man who severely assaulted his mother’s former partner has received an eight-year prison sentence for the fatal injuries he caused.John Forsyth attacked Barry Evans at his mother’s residence in Wishaw in November 2022.
The 29-year-old approached the property after discovering Barry was there with his dog Thor.
The 47-year-old suffered life-threatening injuries—including a brain blood clot—without any apparent provocation, which ultimately led to his death in hospital.
Forsyth claimed he acted in self-defence, but the jury at the High Court in Glasgow found him guilty of culpable homicide after deliberation.
During sentencing at the Edinburgh High Court, Lord Young stated that Forsyth needed to be imprisoned for his actions, emphasizing that the victim posed no significant threat and that the attack was unprovoked and vicious.
Barry Evans had previously been involved with Forsyth’s mother for ten years and had been affected by job loss and mental health issues, taking medication for anxiety and spending the day prior in hospital.
The last nearby sighting was when Evans waved at a neighbour and her children that morning.
On that day, Evans ended up at Forsyth’s mother’s house while she was away.
Forsyth’s sibling initially found Evans’ dog and then the injured man lying on a bed.
The court was told Forsyth then “rushed over” to confront Evans, who had sustained multiple blunt force injuries—such as jaw fractures, broken teeth, black eyes, and bruising—some of which happened as Evans tried to defend himself.
Prosecutors explained Evans died two days later due to these injuries, inflicted by unknown means.
Blood evidence suggested recurrent hits as he lay on a bed.
Forsyth’s brother texted their sister stating he had “battered the life” out of Evans.
Forsyth, during a 999 call, described the victim as “a random person” he was “assaulting” and claimed not to recognize him.
During closing arguments, prosecutor Vish Kathuria highlighted Forsyth’s prison phone calls, where he boasted about “battering” someone who apparently “broke into” his mother’s house and noted Forsyth and his father appeared “proud” of his actions.
The prosecutor pointed out the lack of mention of an actual “lunge” by Evans at Forsyth at the time.
Forsyth admitted to assaulting Evans and leaving him injured but insisted he acted in self-defence, claiming he was frightened and that Evans had reacted aggressively.
However, prosecutors noted Forsyth did not mention any such lunge during the incident and suggested his self-defence claim might have been fabricated.
The court was also told that Evans was especially attached to his dog Thor.
Defense lawyer Murray Macara KC highlighted Forsyth’s call to emergency services as a sign of remorse, describing it as mitigating.
Lord Young ultimately sentenced Forsyth to prison, emphasizing the seriousness of the attack and the loss of a vulnerable man’s life.
