Twisted killer who kept frail widower as ‘slave’ & beat him to death jailed for 16 years
A THUG has been jailed for at least 16 years for murdering a frail widower he was accused of keeping as a slave.
Michael Joyce, 33, battered to death B&B owner Michael White, 61 — who witnesses thought had cancer because he was so emaciated.
It was claimed controlling Joyce had forced him to “do almost everything” for him including transferring cash to his account before he was found with horrific injuries in Kyle of Lochalsh, Wester Ross.
Judge Lady Poole yesterday hailed fundraiser Mr White — credited with helping thousands of victims of global disasters — as a “kind and gentle man who put other people first” as she imposed a life term on his killer.
She said at the High Court in Stirling: “This was an appalling crime.”
The thug’s partner Antonia Gunn, 28 — acquitted of the April 2023 murder on a not proven verdict — had told jurors Joyce punched the older man with “strong” force but she had been afraid to raise the alarm.
She later heard Mr White making noises, as if in pain, from a bedroom in their village home, insisting: “I had no idea how bad this was.”
The court heard pathologists discovered Mr White had three rib fractures plus signs of older injuries.
He attempted to present himself as a friend… It was only after a post-mortem that it became apparent he died as a result of injuries he had inflicted
He also had tears to his bowel and liver plus peritonitis.
Jurors were shown distressing video footage of half-naked Mr White slumped in a shower.
But charges of human trafficking and exploitation were dropped during the trial.
Lawyer Donald Findlay KC said Joyce continued to deny responsibility but was “contrite” that a life had been lost.
Tonight cops blasted the killer’s “utterly abhorrent” thuggery.
Detective Inspector Richard Baird said: “He attempted to present himself as a friend of Mr White.
“It was only after a post-mortem that it became apparent he died as a result of injuries he had inflicted.”