Unaware of his error, he drove into him again. McQuillan sought safety in a neighbouring close, but when he saw Mr Beaton seriously injured, he whacked him repeatedly with a machete and said, “You’ll never do something like that again in a hurry.”

During previous proceedings, the killers pleaded guilty to murder. Prosecutor David McLean KC presented the events’ backdrop for the first time today at Glasgow’s High Court.

He stated that Mullan and Mr Beaton had been out in Greenock that night “apparently searching” for McQuillan. Mr. Beaton had been driving a red Ford Fiesta.

Mullan was driving a stolen white Audi Q2, which had phoney number plates. McQuillan and a buddy were out in the town around 7.15 p.m. At the same time, Mr Beaton and Mullan were driving nearby.

Mr Beaton turned off his engine. McQuillan and his partner then approached Mr. Beaton’s Ford. The victim then exited his vehicle, revealing a “verbal exchange” between the three men.

McQuillan and his friend then dashed away as Mr Beaton pursued on foot, the engine of his Ford still running. Mr McLean then explained: “Mullan, in his Audi, turned around and drove.”

“As McQuillan, his associate, and Mr Beaton were racing down the town’s Drumfochar Road, they were closely followed by an Audi that was speeding on the wrong side of the road.

“Mullan meant to attack McQuillan, but instead struck Mr Beaton, who was thrown to the opposite side of the road. “A voice could be heard on a CCTV recording saying; ‘ha, ha, he has just done his own pal’.”

Mr Beaton was severely injured and curled up on the road. Meanwhile, McQuillan hid in a closet. Mullan, who still believed he had hit McQuillan, turned around in his Audi and attempted to hit him again.

Mr Beaton observed this and attempted to stagger to the pavement, but was struck a second time. He was hurled down the road and now lay unmoving on the pavement. Mullan sped away, destroying a traffic control box along the way. Mr McLean:

“Mullan wanted to murder the person he struck, even if his intended target was, in reality, McQuillan. “It is not known when he realised his mistake.” Witnesses went to help Mr. Beaton. McQuillan emerged from the closet, brandishing a machete.

He jogged over to the victim alongside others, thinking he would also help him. However, Mr McLean stated:

“They heard McQuillan say to Mr Beaton, ‘You’ll not do something like that again in a hurry.'” “He then struck him several times with the machete before moving away.” McQuillan rushed into Mr Beaton’s car, stopping first at a parking lot, then at his sister’s house before heading to his own.

Mr. McLean’s response: “McQuillan’s actions were, at least, wickedly reckless.” Mr Beaton was brought to the hospital; he was absolutely unconscious. He underwent emergency surgery, but did not survive.