A MURDERER who stabbed a lawyer to death more than 25 years ago was caught back in Alexandria with a knife.

Alexander Somerville, 45, had been released on licence from the life sentence he received for the 1992 murder of Gerald Friel in Redburn.

Then-teenager Somerville stabbed him four times in the back after the 47-year-old lawyer, out walking his dog, had been attacked by two other youths in Ladyton.

Somerville was arrested at around 5.20am on January 30 this year after a member of the public called police out of concern after spotting an extremely intoxicated man repeatedly falling over in the street.

The resident walked Somerville home and left him outside his property in Raglan Street Lane.

He was observed standing outside his home when police arrived, fiscal depute Kevin Doherty told Dumbarton Sheriff Court last week.

He was “extremely unsteady” on his feet and police asked if he was okay.

Somerville replied he couldn’t find his house keys, and while searching his front jacket pocket pulled out tobacco and a red-handled Stanley knife - which he then tried to conceal.

Defence solicitor Jonathan Paul did not say in court when Somerville had been released from prison, but said “there’s a lot that’s happened in Mr Somerville’s life since the murder.”

This included a “period of stability” and a relationship, and Mr Paul asked for background reports to be prepared before sentencing.

Sheriff Simon Pender agreed to call for a social work report and restriction of liberty assessment. Somerville, currently in Greenock Prison, will next appear on April 18.

Back in 1992, on October 30, victim Mr Friel was out walking his dog through Ladyton shopping centre car park where he encountered a 17-year-old and the 15-year-old.

Details were revealed at the High Court in Glasgow in 1993 when jurors heard how the incident had been a fairly minor one, with some pushing and shouting, during which Mr Friel struck the 15-year-old with the dog lead.

Concerned for his safety, Mr Friel sought refuge in a friend’s house in O’Hare where he stayed until after midnight. He declined an offer from his friend to escort him and set off home with his dog.

As he went up the road, he encountered the youths, and the 15-year-old boy knocked him to the ground.

The 17-year-old then punched and kicked the lawyer and Somerville stabbed him four times in the back.

Mr Friel staggered back towards his friend’s house and shouted for help. An ambulance took him to hospital but he later died.

Donald Findlay QC, defending, said that Somerville bitterly regretted his folly at getting involved and had expressed genuine sorrow at what had happened.

The 17-year-old at the time was put on probation for 18 months, while the 15-year-old had sentence deferred for one year. They had initially been charged with murder but pleaded guilty to assault.

In 2005, Somerville tried to appeal his sentence and was ordered to serve 13 years. Lord Gill told him that he had received a lenient sentence for the attack.

It was revealed Somerville had been on a governor’s report in jail 33 times, failed 17 random drug tests for cannabis and heroin, and also received a short sentence for a drugs offence while in jail.

Somerville was one of 27 life prisoners who were told the minimum term they had to serve as the “punishment part” after 2001 legislation.