28-07-2025
Hamilton killer murdered man in broad daylight
A killer was caught on CCTV murdering a man in broad daylight in South Lewis stabbed to death William Copeland moments after the men appeared to embrace each 56-year-old then attacked the victim's father Thomas, 59, in his wheelchair during the "soul-destroying" attack in Hamilton last pleaded guilty to charges of murder and attempted murder as he appeared in the dock at the High Court in Glasgow.
He will learn the minimum amount of time he will spend behind bars when he is sentenced in September.
William Copeland, 36, was with his father and another man when there had been a brief "verbal altercation" with Lewis earlier on the day of the three men were later in the area around Hamilton's Burnbank Centre when Lewis and a friend turned David Logan said William seemed in "good spirits" with him being seen "shaking hands and hugging" both Lewis and the other within seconds Lewis became aggressive and produced a knife.A number of William's relatives sobbed as they watched graphic CCTV footage of the was stabbed in the torso and tumbled to the ground, but initially managed to get to his feet and stagger away a short went after William, who fell again, and stabbed him several times to the torso, head and then pointed the weapon at William's father Thomas, who was stabbed in the chest, causing him to fall backwards in his killer continued shouting before walking off and hiding the knife in his pocket.
'William would always be there'
Witnesses rushed to help both men, with one giving CPR to William until paramedics arrived. However, he died having suffered eight stab wounds. Thomas was taken to hospital where he received emergency was later discharged but the court heard the murder had a "traumatic effect" on both him and other relatives, especially witnessing his son being attacked in front of hearing was told Lewis had previous convictions including a high court drugs offence from Colbeck continued his remand in custody as the case was adjourned for the aftermath of the killing, William's sister Aggie Smith spoke of the family's said: "William would always be there for us. There are no words to describe how difficult this is."It really is soul-destroying. He would go out and play football with his nephews. William treated them as his own."
