Two men found guilty of beating dad to death in Irvine

Two men laughed and celebrated after they murdered a dad in a brutal street attack in Irvine in September 2024.

Simon Roberts, 38, and Sean McKie, 37, pounced on Malcolm McCandlish, 43.

Malcolm and his sister's partner Jason Pendlebury had approached the pair after McKie earlier slapped his sibling Margaret McCandlish.

The dad-of-one was punched to the ground by Roberts before the pair knocked Mr Pendlebury unconscious.

Roberts continued the attack upon Malcom by repeatedly headbutting him before McKie kicked him on the head.

Smiling Roberts went on slap McKie on the back as they walked away after he imitated the kick he had just carried out.

The two men then posed for a smiling selfie in a pub which was uploaded to social media 30 minutes later.

Roberts and McKie face a life sentence after they were found guilty today/yesterday at the High Court in Glasgow of murdering Malcolm McCandlish.

They were also convicted of assaulting Mr Pendlebury to his permanent disfigurement.

The court heard that the two men had spent the day together having met by chance in Irvine town centre.

They initially went to a pub before visiting Malcom's younger Margaret McCandlish at her home in Kirk Vennel in Irvine.

Jurors heard that McKie slapped Margaret while Roberts looked on.

Margaret explained what happened to her to Malcom and her partner Mr Pendlebury once the two men had left.

Later that day, Malcolm and Mr Pendlebury approached Roberts and McKie in the street in Irvine town centre.

Malcolm asked: "What are you doing slapping my sister?"

Roberts then punched Malcolm with a "full force" punch which caused him to fall to the ground.

Roberts and McKie turned their attention to Mr Pendlebury was knocked to the ground unconscious.

McKie then kicked Mr Pendlebury while he was on the ground while Malcolm got back to his feet.

Prosecutor Michael McIntosh told jurors in his closing speech: "Roberts held Malcolm while delivering ferocious headbutts all while holding the back of his head or scruff of the neck.

"The video shows as he does this, he is forcing Malcolm against a parked car to the ground.

"While Malcolm is on the ground, Roberts still has a hold of him.

"As Malcolm hit the ground, he is by that point clearly unconscious."

Horror CCTV played to the court then showed McKie kick Malcolm to the head.

In describing the pair leaving the scene, the advocate depute stated a "smile" could be seen from under Roberts' cap.

Mr McIntosh added: "McKie kicked the air while Roberts slaps him on the back and - as a detective constable put it - it was an act of celebration."

The trial also saw a selfie uploaded by one of the men which showed the pair smiling.

Mr McIntosh said: "This selfie was taken 30 minutes after they left Malcolm lying unconscious."

There was also evidence led of Roberts "laughing" at press reports of McKie being granted bail after an initial court hearing.

Roberts himself in a message to his mother said that he was "expecting to get a sentence" for his own part in the attack.

In explaining a motive for the attack, Mr McIntosh said: "These were two men looking out looking for trouble, behaving like thugs itching for a fight."

Jurors heard that Malcolm sadly died two weeks later in hospital from a brain injury.

A doctor stated that the injury was "the type clearly caused by the fall and likely sustained when Malcolm hit the ground."

It was further claimed that Malcolm would have died within days if not hours if surgery had not been performed on him.

Roberts, a painter and decorator, in his evidence claimed that he was acting in self-defence.

He claimed that Malcom "threatened to stab" him and McKie.

Roberts stated that he thought Mr Pendlebury had "something in his hand as well."

When asked by his counsel Graeme Brown how he felt when he found out Malcolm had died, Roberts replied: "Devastated. I have still not got over it."

Mr Brown: "Did you care whether he lived or died?"

Roberts: "Of course."

It was revealed that Roberts has five previous convictions for assault which includes to severe injury and permanent disfigurement which involved the use of a knife.

He was last jailed for 14 months in 2021 for an assault which involved a blunt item.

McKie meantime has four previous convictions for assault which included a 2011 case with the use of knives.

Sentence was deferred pending background reports until next month by Judge Lady Drummond.

She said: "There is only one sentence for murder which is life imprisonment which is what I will be imposing."

The two men showed no emotion as their remand in custody was continued meantime.

Hear the latest news on Clyde 1 on FM, DAB, smart speaker or the Rayo app.