Christopher Brown, 37, was ordered to serve at least 13 years in custody after being found guilty of killing Henry White, 57, following a trial at the High Court in Edinburgh last year. Brown subjected Mr White to a sustained and violent assault at an address in Oakley, Fife, on 21 and 22 March 2023. Despite being seriously injured, Brown then dragged the victim outside the property and left him to die.

The Crown Office asked the Appeal Court to consider imposing a longer custodial term due to the serious nature of the offences.

The Appeal Court upheld the Crown appeal. The original punishment part has now been quashed and replaced with a minimum 17-year jail term.

Kenny Donnelly, deputy crown agent, said: “Prosecutors have a responsibility to consider appeals based upon undue leniency in sentencing. Such appeals are rare but important to ensure the public interest is properly served. They allow the court to review sentences that the Crown believe fall outside the range of sentences reasonably considered appropriate.”