A FORMER soldier has admitted killing his daughter’s partner.

Daniel Langman, 48, said he strangled Anthony Collins at his flat in Port Glasgow on May 16, 2021.

Langman claimed he lost control and panicked after finding his house in disarray with uninvited guest Mr Collins inside.

Prosecutors claim the 28-year-old was hit with a guitar, iron, metal poles, a plastic tube as well as a screwdriver on the head and body.

Mr Collins is said to have suffered other “sharp and blunt force trauma”.

The murder charge then states Langman and co-accused Anthony McGovern, 36, wrapped a cable around his neck, tightened it with a metal pole and strangled Mr Collins.

Langman told jurors in evidence at the High Court in Glasgow that he did not like Mr Collins who he claimed was bad for his daughter Chloe and vice versa.

He claimed that he "definitely did not" intend to bring harm on Mr Collins but had barred him from his flat.

Langman stated he had been out with friend McGovern before returning home late at night on the day of the killing.

Langman said that his front door was ajar and that his house had been "obliterated".

He said: "I panicked about the dog having seen the state of the house."

Langman claimed that he first saw Mr Collins at the door of his front room with a metal pole in his hand.

Langman said that he had given Mr Collins verbal abuse before being struck on the hand with the pole.

Donald Findlay KC, defending, asked his client what happened next.

Langman replied: "I picked up my guitar and I hit him over the head three or four times - it virtually exploded in bits and pieces."

Langman claimed that after going to the ground and punching Mr Collins, his mind is "hazy" about the incident.

He said: "I remember Anthony McGovern screaming at me and I came out and realised that I was sat on top of him, strangling him."

Mr Findlay asked: "Did you lose control?"

Langman replied: "Yes."

He stated that Mr Collins was in a "bad state" and he wrapped him up in a duvet.

He claimed that he did it in order to "work out what to do next" rather than conceal the crime.

Mr Findlay asked if his client was trying to protect McGovern or if he was afraid of him.

Langman replied: "No."

Mr Findlay later questioned Langman on whether he meant to kill him and was told: "Definitely not."

Prosecutor Leigh Lawrie put it to Langman that he did not tell his wife Hayley and his daughter's former partner Charlie Malone about being attacked by the pole.

Langman denied that it was a lie.

Miss Lawrie made a similar suggestion regarding Langman apparently telling them that Mr Collins was in the bedroom when he first saw him.

Miss Lawrie said: "You discovered Mr Collins in your flat - was there no other way of dealing with this other than him leaving your flat in a body bag?"

Langman replied: "I'm not sure."

The trial earlier heard that Langman suffered superficial injuries.

Miss Lawrie said: "You accept Mr Collins was dead, is this not grossly disproportionate on your part?"

Langman stated: "Yes."

Langman accepted due to the evidence at trial that he was responsible for using a variety of weapons on Mr Collins including an iron and a screwdriver but did not remember it.

Mr Lawrie asked if his hazy memory of the incident was so that he could not face up to what he had done.

Langman replied: "I don't know."

It was also accepted that Mr Collins was alive when Langman wrapped him in a duvet before strangling him with a TV aerial.

Miss Lawrie lastly asked why his wife said that McGovern was involved in the attack on Mr Collins.

He replied: "I don't know."

The trial continues before Judge Lord Fairley.