June 17th 2024.
In August 2022, tragedy struck when 75-year-old Peter Coshan was murdered in his own home in Leith, Edinburgh. The culprit behind this heinous crime was 29-year-old Paul McNaughton, who was recently sentenced to a minimum of 22 years in prison for his actions. Not only did he take an innocent man's life, but he also stole tens of thousands of pounds from Coshan, who was a retired biology teacher.
The court heard that McNaughton used a fake profile on a gay hook-up site to lure Coshan to his flat. This was not the first time they had interacted, as they had met online in 2021. However, McNaughton saw an opportunity to take advantage of Coshan's trust by gaining access to his bank accounts and stealing his hard-earned money. When Coshan found out about the thefts, he threatened to go to the police unless McNaughton provided him with sexual favors for free. This angered McNaughton, who then plotted to kill Coshan.
According to prosecutors, this senseless act of violence was solely motivated by financial gain. After committing the murder, McNaughton, along with his flatmate Paul Black, 65, hid Coshan's body for several days before disposing of it in Northumberland. Coshan had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease five years prior to his death, making him vulnerable and an easy target for McNaughton's greed.
The court also heard how Coshan's worried family members had contacted the police when they became suspicious about the texts they were receiving from his phone. Little did they know, McNaughton had taken control of the phone and was responding to the messages himself. In 2023, McNaughton eventually confessed to the murder and was sentenced to a minimum of 22 years in prison. Black, who was infatuated with McNaughton, was acquitted of the murder charge but found guilty of attempting to defeat the ends of justice and received a sentence of five-and-a-half years.
During the sentencing, Lord Scott addressed McNaughton, saying, "Mr. Coshan was a gentle and committed friend who enjoyed life despite his Parkinson's diagnosis. You took advantage of his illness and vulnerabilities, and when you felt 'fed up' with the situation, you decided to end his life. Even in death, you continued to exploit him for your own benefit." This senseless act of violence has left a community in shock and a family in mourning.
This is a developing news story, and we will continue to provide updates as they become available. For the latest news, follow The Agency on Twitter and Facebook, and be sure to sign up for our daily push alerts to receive articles directly to your device. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Peter Coshan during this difficult time.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
