Teen who stabbed dad’s friend to death ‘over comment about his intelligence’ jailed

A teenager who killed his father’s friend after the man allegedly made a derogatory comment about his intelligence has been jailed for six years.

Lennon Hathway, 18, stabbed Alistair Lamb, 38, with a knife at his parents’ home in Dundee on April 18 last year.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard how the pair became involved in an altercation with each other shortly after Mr Lamb came to see the accused’s dad.

Prosecutor David McDonald said: “The accused answered the door and let Mr Lamb in. 

“The accused stated ‘Awrite Ali Bali.’

“Mr Lamb shouted back at the accused, and the accused’s recollection is that Mr Lamb shouted back at him, ‘f**k off you M****l.”

Mr McDonald told judge Lord Cubie that a physical and verbal altercation then took place between Hathway and Mr Lamb, who was 5ft 3in tall and weighed less than ten stone. 

The court heard that Mr Lamb went to the kitchen and grabbed a knife, whilst Hathway went into his bedroom to get one. 

Mr McDonald said the two then continued to fight each other. 

The advocate depute said: “[Hathway’s father] tried to get Mr Lamb to leave the property, which he declined to do. 

“Mr Lamb was in possession of a serrated knife, and the accused, who had retrieved a knife from his bedroom, continued the physical tussle in the hallway, which moved into the living room next to the kitchen door. 

“The accused’s mother… follows her son, and she saw Lennon Hathway and Mr Lamb come together at the doorway between the living room and kitchen. 

“Mr Lamb was facing her, and Lennon Hathway was in between them with his back to her. [The woman] was shouting at them to stop. 

“[She] then saw her son Lennon stabbing in a downward motion with a knife. 

“[The witness] describes the direction of the stabbing motion as between the head and the shoulder blade of Mr Lamb. 

“Shortly afterwards… [Hathway’s mother] is seen in the common close in an upset state and was heard to say, ‘Ali and Lennon just stabbed each other. He’s gushing blood.’”

The court heard that paramedics arrived soon after the incident and tried to save Mr Lamb’s life. However, he later died in Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, on the same evening. 

Hathway, originally of Dundee, pleaded guilty to the culpable homicide of Mr Lamb.

Mr McDonald told the court that Hathway suffers from epilepsy, which arose from a head injury he suffered from being attacked in the street in 2024. 

Mr McDonald added: “According to the accused’s family, the injury sustained has also caused issues with paranoia and impulse control.” 

Hathway was sentenced to six years in prison at the High Court in Edinburgh on Monday.