At the High Court in Edinburgh, Mackenzie (23) was sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to a charge of culpable homicide.

But yesterday, his victim's younger brother Paul — joined in court by Mr Connor's fiancee Caroline and their six-month-old daughter Katie — criticised the jail term.

"I honestly don't think 10 years is enough," said the 26-year-old. "It was premeditated murder. He stabbed him twice and both stab wounds were fatal.

"He knew what he was doing. He got rid of the knife. He got rid of his clothing. I just feel justice has not been served."

The family's shock was yesterday shared by Inverness Crime Prevention panel chairman Jim Ferguson, who said the only way to reduce knife crime was to issue heavy sentences as deterrents.

Mr Connor's mother Marion Mackintosh, of Towerhill Road, called for a minimum sentence of 10 years for her son's killer when she spoke exclusively to The Inverness Courier in November.

At the time, she described Mackenzie as "evil to the core".

"He is a huge danger to the public and should only be let out on licence," she said.

Judge Lord Hodge reduced the sentence from 14 years in recognition of Mackenzie's guilty plea.

He heard how the painter and decorator was remorseful but told him his actions could not be excused by drink or drugs.

Lord Hodge also acknowledged how his victim had been behaving aggressively and had previous convictions for violence.

Mr Connor, an electricity linesman of Millerton Avenue, had returned to Inverness from Bristol days before the attack and attended a party at the flat in Abbey Court after drinking in the city.

James Mackenzie is led away to start his 10-year jail sentence.

Advocate depute Iain McSporran said Mr Connor was loud and sarcastic when there and called a friend to say trouble was afoot.

A scuffle broke out after valium tablets were distributed and Mr Connor's shirt was pulled over his head.

He was "raging" and challenged Mackenzie to a fight. As a friend tried to get Mr Connor out of the flat, Mackenzie stabbed him and pushed him onto the landing, where Mr Connor shouted: "He stabbed me — the bastard."

He was helped downstairs and staggered around before going to ground bleeding heavily from the stomach.

When Mackenzie was first detained by police, he denied being at the scene. He later stated he was at the flat and a verbal and physical altercation took place, but maintained a weapon was not used.

The knife passed through a rib and breastbone and penetrated both Mr Connor's lungs.

"Precisely how and why the fatal blows came to be struck may never be known," added Mr McSporran.

Defence counsel Donald Findlay QC said Mackenzie had been fearful of Mr Connor after he lost his temper, adding his client had armed himself with a knife when making a determined effort to put Mr Connor out of the flat.

Inverness Central councillor Donnie Kerr, who lives in Merkinch, yesterday said it was sad Inverness had seen such violence.

"The community accept the fact that a life has been lost and a price has to be paid for it," he said.

andrew.dixon@inverness-courier.co.uk

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