Manhunt after two men found stabbed to death in Glasgow
Police are hunting those responsible for the murder of two men, named as Paul Lafferty and Gary Beaton, found stabbed to death in a flat in Glasgow's west end.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
Police in Glasgow have launched a manhunt after two men were found stabbed to death in a flat in the city's west end. The victims have been named as 50-year-old Paul Lafferty, who lived at the property, and 54-year-old Gary Beaton. Both men were known to each other.
Officers were called to the flat on Sunday afternoon after concerns were raised by a family member of one of the victims. The men were found with stab wounds and were pronounced dead at the scene. Post-mortem examinations have since confirmed the cause of death as stab wounds, and police are treating the deaths as murder.
The men were last seen alive at around 9am on Friday morning, with their bodies discovered shortly before 5pm on Sunday. Detectives have appealed for anyone who saw the pair during that time, or who has any other information, to come forward. A knife was used in the attack, police confirmed, but they have not said whether they believe one or multiple attackers were involved.
The street in the upmarket west end, close to the University of Glasgow, was closed for much of the day on Monday as forensic teams searched for the murder weapon and other evidence. It has since reopened, but officers remain at the scene. Increased patrols have been introduced in the area to reassure residents, while the families of the victims are being supported by specialist officers.
Police have not said whether they believe the attack was targeted, and they are still trying to establish whether the killer or killers were known to the victims. The investigation is ongoing.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | ITV | Sky News |
|---|---|---|
| A knife was used in the murder. | · | |
| Men were found dead with stab wounds on Sunday afternoon. | · | |
| One of the victims lived at the flat. | · | |
| Police are treating the deaths as murder after post-mortems. | · | |
| The two victims were named as Paul Lafferty and Gary Beaton. | · | |
| The victims were last seen around 9am on Friday. | · |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
Sky News led with the breaking news element, focusing on the live location and the forensic search. The correspondent highlighted the affluent nature of the west end, the unanswered questions about the number of killers and whether they were known to the victims, and the ongoing manhunt. They also included a brief clip of the lead detective appealing for witnesses.
- “It doesn't get much busier than this.”
- “Is it one killer? Is it two killers? Is it multiple? They don't know”
- “What we do know is the two victims were known to each other, and they were Paul Lafferty and Gary Beaton.”
ITV1 focused on the discovery triggered by a family's concern, the post-mortem results, and the police appeal for public help. They also noted the street reopening and increased patrols. Their tone was more straightforward reporting, with a reporter on the scene.
- “It was concerns from the family of one of the men that led officers to the flat behind me in the Glasgow's west end, where the discovery was made.”
- “Now, following postmortems, police today told us they are treating their deaths as murder.”
- “Now, they are asking for help from the public as to the movements of Paul and Gary, who were last seen alive at 9am on Friday morning, up until they were discovered at 5pm, just before 5pm on the Sunday.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.