A man killed a young mum after stabbing her at least 45 times in a “vicious and frenzied” attack in her own home, a judge has ruled.
Cocaine abuser Michael Porchetta, 28, brutally knifed Aimee Cannon at the property in West Calder in West Lothian on May 7 2022. Beautician Aimee had previously spurned his advances insisting they were just “pals”.
The 26 year-old’s father Vince made the grim discovery of her body when he came to her house the next day. Porchetta had been accused of murder, but was deemed unfit to stand trial.
An examination of facts hearing instead took place to look at the circumstances of the tragic incident and Porchetta’s mental state at the time. Lord Mulholland concluded at the High Court in Glasgow today/yesterday that Porchetta “beyond reasonable doubt” carried out the attack.
A large throng of Aimee’s grieving family were at the hearing to listen to the judgement. Lord Mulholland stated: “This was a vicious, frenzied attack on a defenceless woman in her own home. It was carried out by some one regarded as a friend.”
The judge summarized some of the harrowing evidence he had heard including Porchetta not getting help for stricken Aimee. He added it was an “inescapable inference” that Porchetta killed the mum.
Porchetta is currently being detained at the State Hospital at Carstairs as part of an interim compulsion order. He will remain there as Lord Mulholland adjourned the case until the New Year for further psychiatric reports to be completed.
The earlier examination of facts in Edinburgh had heard agreed evidence read by prosecutor John McElroy KC of Aimee’s injuries. He said: “The post mortem concluded that she died of multiple sharp force injuries. She had at least 45 stab wounds and multiple clean cut wounds on her scalp as well as both hands.”
Porchetta stayed with his uncle Robert Nicoll, 59, and sister Gabriella, 29, after their parents passed away. Mr Nicoll told the court how his nephew returned home at 7am on May 7.
He recalled: “I asked him how his night was. He said: ‘Aye, it was alright’. He went upstairs. He changed his clothes and went out to work.”
Porchetta returned around 5pm and had his dinner. A woman also arrived and they went to his room. It was the next afternoon an “upset” Porchetta went out to speak to his uncle while he was gardening.
Mr Nicoll: “He said to me: ‘The lassie has been murdered up the street. My pals told me’. Michael said he had been up at her house on the Friday night. He always went there. He said he had been taking drugs. He then said his pals had called and told him Aimee had been stabbed.”
Porchetta’s sister Gabriella also gave evidence and she recalled how she smelled what she thought was blood on his jeans when she went to get them for the wash.
The deputy charge nurse said: “I asked him where it had come from. He said he had cut his thumb after catching it on a barbed wire fence. He also said he had been to Aimee’s on Friday night, but left around midnight. He denied doing anything to Aimee.”
Porchetta claimed he had left her “safe and well”. But, his sister called police and told her brother that he had to speak to them. She also told how the family had been concerned about his cocaine abuse.
The witness stated: “Michael said he had to stop it as it was ‘f***ing him up in the head’.”
Porchetta was said to have regularly asked his uncle for cash while taking cocaine. Witnesses spoke of Porchetta “trying it on” with Aimee – but she rebuffed him insisting he was “just my wee pal”.
One friend said Aimee had contacted him months before the killing to get Porchetta to leave her house. She was described as “anxious, alarmed and upset”.
Porchetta was also charged with stealing Aimee’s phone, keys and underwear as well as disposing of the blade and washing her blood from his trainers.
In his judgement, Lord Mulholland said Porchetta had “tried to cover his tracks” after killing, but that evidence – including DNA – had “told its own story”.
Don’t miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond – Sign up to our daily newsletter here.