Murderer Who Ate Victim's Finger and Set Flat Ablaze Jailed for Life

Warning: this story contains graphic content which some readers might find distressing. A murderer who stabbed his victim 22 times before cooking and eating his finger and setting his flat on fire has been jailed for life and told he will serve at least 23 years. Gabriel Brown killed Joseph Ernest Johnston, 58, at the victim's home in Annan, Dumfries and Galloway, on 19 November 2024. Brown, 35, had denied murder with a special defence that he was suffering from a mental disorder at the time and believed he had been possessed by the spirit of 19th Century occultist Aleister Crowley. However, Brown was found guilty of the "sustained, merciless and vicious attack" at an earlier trial at the High Court in Glasgow. Johnston was pronounced dead at the scene when emergency crews were called to the fire on Lady Street. The trial heard Johnston had previously been in a relationship with Brown's stepmother. Brown, a convicted sex offender, had targeted Johnston over claims of what he had been told about their time together. On one occasion, his stepmother had pointed out to Brown where Johnston lived and called him a derogatory name. Brown, who had been diagnosed with mental health issues as a teenager, had consumed alcohol and cannabis before going to Johnston's home late at night. The two men had not previously met, but Johnston is said to have allowed him in and taken a selfie with him. However, the court heard Brown then became violent and attacked Johnston with a knife before carving letters into his face. He started fires in four areas of the home, including putting metal cutlery in the microwave, turning on cooker hobs and torching furniture. Brown was also said to have ripped out smoke alarms. Fire crews were called to the scene the following morning and were able to extinguish the blaze. Johnston's body was discovered charred inside afterwards.