Mum-of-two ‘stabbed to death on her children’s toys’ by man she had ‘rebuffed’

A man who has been accused of stabbing a young mum to death and leaving her to die on her children’s toys told his family his night was ‘alright’.

Michael Porchetta, 28, allegedly stabbed mum-of-two Aimee Cannon, 26, in the stomach, chest, neck and head a total of 45 times in May 2022.

She was found lying on top of her children’s toys at her home in West Calder, Scotland, the High Court in Edinburgh has heard.

Porchetta returned home after the alleged attack to his uncle Robert Nicoll and sister Gabriella.

When asked how his evening was, he said: ‘Aye it was alright.’

Mr Nicoll said in the examination of facts hearing: ‘I asked him how his night was. He said “aye it was alright” and he went upstairs. He changed his clothes and went out to work.’

Aimee was found by her dad Vince when he came to her home the next day, the Daily Record reports.

Witnesses said Porchetta had ‘tried it on’ with Aimee, but she rebuffed him.

Alistair Wilson said: ‘Aimee told me once that Michael had come on to her but she told him they were just pals.’

Robert Aitken added: ‘Mikey tried it on with her two months before her death.’

John Honeyman also told the court Aimee had contacted him because Porchetta wouldn’t leave her house one evening.

He said: ‘She seemed anxious, alarmed and upset. Panicking.’

Two days after her death, Porchetta spoke to Mr Nicoll while he was gardening.

The witness said: ‘Michael came out to see me, he seemed upset. He said to me “the lassie’s been murdered up the street. My pals told me.”

‘Michael said he had been up at her house on Friday night. He always went there.

‘He said he had been taking drugs. Then he said his pals had called him and told him Aimee had been stabbed.’

Porchetta, who was deemed unfit to stand trial, denied having anything to do with Aimee’s death until his sister, who is a nurse, could smell blood on his jeans.

She said: ‘I asked Michael where it came from and he said he had cut his thumb after catching it on a barbed wire fence.

‘He also said he had been to Aimee’s home on Friday night but left around midnight. He denied doing anything to Aimee.’

She urged him to go to the police, where he was charged with murdering her and stealing her phone, keys and underwear.

He has also been accused of attempting to pervert the course of justice by disposing of the blade and washing her blood from his trainers.

The hearing continues.

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