Joseph Ramage killed Stewart Barrett and his dumped body at reservoir

A man is facing a life sentence after being convicted of murdering his neighbour and dumping his body near a reservoir in Stirlingshire.

Joseph Ramage, 39, killed 34-year-old Stewart Barrett after an altercation at a property in Kirkintilloch, East Dunbartonshire, in November last year.

He later dumped his body in woods at Carron Valley Reservoir, near Fintry.

Co-accused Paul McManus, 33, was cleared of murder, but found guilty of helping Ramage remove the body.

Sentence on both men was deferred until August at the High Court in Edinburgh.

Ramage was convicted of murder and attempting to defeat the ends of justice following a trial at the High Court in Glasgow.

It emerged after the verdict that Ramage has previous convictions for assault.

Former factory worker Mr Barrett was a father-of-three who had recently got back with his partner Michelle Laird at the time of his death.

Ms Laird said Ramage had once been a neighbour of her and Mr Barrett.

The 36 year-old accused Ramage of "smirking" as she was asked to identify him while giving evidence.

A friend of Mr Barrett sarcastically shouted "bye Joseph" as the killer was lead handcuffed to the cells.