Four separate cases of remorseless killers who showed no remorse, laughing during or after their violent crimes, have resulted in prison sentences. From thugs who celebrated a murder to a killer who laughed in court, their sadistic behaviour was laid bare in evidence.
Simon Roberts and Sean McKie
Simon Roberts, 38, and Sean McKie, 37, laughed and celebrated after they murdered dad Malcolm McCandlish, 43, in a brutal street attack in Irvine in September 2024. 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 on Malcolm by repeatedly headbutting him before McKie kicked him on the head. Smiling Roberts went on to 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.
In May, Judge Lady Drummond sentenced Roberts to a minimum of 18 years and McKie to 17 years after they were found guilty of Mr McCandlish's murder and of assaulting Mr Pendlebury to his permanent disfigurement.
George Ness
Murderer George Ness laughed out loud as he was jailed for life for bludgeoning Scottish dad John Smyth, 63, to death with a heavy lump of wood. The 41-year-old was described as "completely out of control" when he inflicted skull fractures and unsurvivable brain injuries on Mr Smyth, who was born in Glasgow, then stamped on his body as he lay bleeding and unconscious. Evil Ness then rifled through the dying man's pockets and stole his phone after the three minutes of deadly violence at a home in North Shields.
The deadly violence happened when Ness turned up at Mr Smyth's neighbour's home wanting more drugs, which he did not have the money to pay for and had warned her "I'm coming in", while in a drink and drug fuelled rage. Mr Smyth picked up, but did not use, a craft knife and screwdriver to confront Ness outside but was met with deadly violence.
Ness, of North Shields, claimed he was acting in self defence and denied murder but was found guilty by a jury at Newcastle Crown Court. As he was sentenced in October 2025 to life behind bars and told he must serve a minimum 22 years for the killing, Ness laughed loudly while Judge Paul Sloan KC was talking.
Kevin Marks
Kevin Marks was incarcerated for killing his ex-partner Ann Drummond, 47. In June 2019, Marks was released on bail but had been experiencing poor mental health and concerned Ms Drummond had gone to court to meet him. However, the 48-year-old started a fire in Ms Drummond's car at a road near Bathgate while she was still inside. Moments later, he was seen standing over the businesswoman and he giggled as she rolled around the ground in a bid to extinguish the flames engulfing her body.
Paramedics took Ms Drummond to hospital where medics found that over 80 per cent of her body was injured by burns. Sadly, she died at Glasgow Royal Infirmary after doctors concluded her injuries were so severe that she couldn't survive. Prosecutors accepted a not guilty plea from Marks on the basis that his mental health was so poor that he wasn't responsible for his actions. In October 2020, Judge Collins imposed restriction and treatment orders at the High Court in Edinburgh which would see Marks detained at the State Hospital Carstairs without limit of time.
George Murray and Scott McClymont
George Murray, 33, and Scott McClymont, 22, recorded themselves torturing and slashing two terrified victims while laughing hysterically. They turned on Ryan Murray and a 15-year-old boy at a flat in Glasgow's Springburn days after Christmas 2020. The crime at 23-year-old Mr Murray's home was so gruesome that blood seeped down into the flat below.
In horrific mobile phone footage of the attack, both victims begged for mercy as they were repeatedly "chopped" on the head and body with blades. One of the attackers taunted: "Dance for me, dance for me..." Mr Murray is seen drenched in blood as he stood frightened in a bath and the 15-year-old pulled his hood up as he cowered while trying to avoid being repeatedly hit. Amid hysterical laughing by the thugs, McClymont stated: "You better die slowly. See if you grass us up." Both men pleaded guilty to the despicable crime and, at the High Court in Glasgow in July 2021, they were sentenced to a total of 12 years and eight months behind bars.
