A killer who murdered a mother-of-two in a frenzied knife attack has been detained in hospital indefinitely.
Cocaine abuser Michael Porchetta, 28, might never be released after he brutally stabbed Aimee Cannon to death at her home in West Calder, West Lothian, on May 7, 2022.
The beautician, 26, had previously spurned his advances insisting they were just ‘pals’.
Her father Vince discovered her body when he came to her house the next day.
Porchetta had been due to stand trial for murder but was deemed unfit as a result of a learning disability.
An examination of facts hearing instead took place to look at the circumstances of the incident and Porchetta’s mental state at the time.
Lord Mulholland concluded in November last year that Porchetta ‘beyond reasonable doubt’ carried out the attack.
The killer was yesterday back in the dock at the High Court in Glasgow.
Cocaine abuser Michael Porchetta, 28, might never be released after he brutally stabbed Aimee Cannon (pictured) to death at her home in West Calder
Michael Porchetta, 28, (pictured) might never be released after he brutally stabbed Aimee Cannon to death
After hearing evidence from two psychiatrists who had compiled reports on Porchetta, Lord Mulholland imposed an indefinite compulsion order for him to remain at the State Hospital in Carstairs.
The judge told him: ‘I found that you murdered Aimee Cannon – for whatever reason, only you will know.
‘You subjected her to a cowardly, vicious and frenzied attack.
‘She was defenceless as you were armed with a knife or knives. It is clear from some of her defensive injuries and her broken nails, she fought for her life.’
He added Porchetta had ‘deviously tried to cover his tracks’ including getting rid of the victim’s mobile phone and trying to clean blood from his trainers.
A large throng of Ms Cannon’s relatives were in court – some hugged and were in tears at the end of the hearing.
Lord Mulholland said he had read emotional impact statements penned by family which he described as ‘heart-wrenching’.
He concluded: ‘You clearly are a danger to the public.’
The earlier examination of facts in Edinburgh had heard agreed evidence read by prosecutor John McElroy KC of Ms Cannon’s injuries.
He said: ‘The post mortem concluded that she died of multiple sharp force injuries.
‘She had at least 45 stab wounds and multiple clean cut wounds on her scalp as well as both hands.’
Porchetta stayed with his uncle Robert Nicoll, 59, and sister Gabriella, 29, after their parents passed away.
Mr Nicoll told the court how his nephew returned home at 7am on May 7, changed his clothes and went to work.
On return home, he had dinner but the following afternoon told his uncle of the murder claiming he’d heard of it from his friends.
Aimee Cannon’s father Vince discovered her body when he came to her house the next day
Mr Nicoll said: ‘Michael said he had been up at her house on the Friday night.
‘He always went there. He said he had been taking drugs. He then said his pals had called and told him Aimee had been stabbed.’
Porchetta’s sister Gabriella also gave evidence and she recalled how she smelled what she thought was blood on his jeans when she went to get them for the wash.
The deputy charge nurse said: ‘I asked him where it had come from. He said he had cut his thumb after catching it on a barbed wire fence.
‘He also said he had been to Aimee’s on Friday night, but left around midnight.
‘He denied doing anything to Aimee.’
Porchetta claimed he had left her ‘safe and well’.
But, his sister called police and told her brother that he had to speak to them.
The court also heard the family had been concerned about his cocaine abuse and Porchetta had said himself it was ‘f*****g him up in the head’.
Witnesses also spoke of him ‘trying it on’ with Ms Cannon – but she rebuffed him insisting he was ‘just my wee pal’.
One friend said she had contacted him months before the killing to get Porchetta to leave her house.
She was described as ‘anxious, alarmed and upset’.
Consultant psychiatrist Dr Stuart Doig was one of the two medical professionals who gave evidence yesterday.
He said Porchetta needs ‘concerted long term risk management’ measures while at the state hospital.
At one stage, Lord Mulholland asked the witness: ‘It is possible that he is never released?’
Dr Doig replied: ‘That is correct.’
The psychiatrist also agreed during his evidence that there appeared to be ‘no clear motive’ for the killing.
