Buckie man left friend in coma after fight that was sparked over a smashed PlayStation

A man was left in hospital with a two facial factures and a broken nose after a fight with a friend that was sparked by a PlayStation being smashed.

Inverness Sheriff Court heard that Andrew Muir, from Buckie but described as an Inverness prisoner, had been out drinking in a local pub before returning to his home in Brodie Avenue in the early hours of April 13, 2024.

His friend, Matthew Christie arrived about 3.30am and fiscal depute Pauline Gair said that matters were amicable at first when they all fell asleep.

Mrs Gair said both men were good friends and had a relationship and children at different times to Muir's then partner.

However, things quickly turned sour at around 8am that morning, when a row broke out.

"It spilled out into the garden and Mr Christie made a threat towards the accused, saying that he would get him when he was out walking with his children and this angered him."

Mr Christie punched him causing him to fall to the ground and CCTV filmed Muir punching and kicking him to the head, rendering him unconscious.

Muir admitted assault to severe injury and danger of life, as well as failing to appear for a court hearing.

The court heard that Mr Christie was taken to Dr Gray's Hospital where he was placed in an induced coma to check his head injuries.

He suffered a fractured eye socket and cheek bone and a broken nose.

Defending, Graham Morrison told the court that the two men had been friends for many years but this had nothing to do with jealousy over the same partner.

"The problem was drink, they had discussions at first and everything was amicable.

“But when Mr Christie smashed the Playstation, it angered my client.

“There was an exchange of punches in the kitchen but it spilled out into the garden.

“When he heard the comment, he knew he would be attacked and he reacted.

"CCTV filmed the incident and after he walked away, he came back, tended to Mr Christie, put him in the recovery position and phoned the ambulance."

Muir was jailed for 18 months, backdated to February 3 this year when he was remanded after failing to appear for a court hearing.