A serial criminal has been found guilty of murdering a taxi driver in an unprovoked attack after he failed to give him a cigarette.

Steven Greig was already in prison for seriously assaulting Mark Ward, 55, by pushing him down a hill in Dundee on 6 April 2022.

But he was re-prosecuted for murder after Mr Ward – who was so severely injured he required round-the-clock care – died a day before the first anniversary of the attack.

Greig, 47, who has 189 previous convictions, will be sentenced in March.

The High Court in Dundee heard the killer walked away from the scene in the city’s Coupar Angus Road “unbothered” after leaving his victim lying in a pool of blood.

Advocate depute Mark Mohammed KC told the jury a 999 call was made and paramedics found Mr Ward with a significant injury to his eye and back of his head.

He said the victim appeared to have suffered substantial blood loss.

Mr Ward was taken to the city’s Ninewells Hospital where he had surgery for life-threatening head injuries.

Mr Mohammed added: “He remained dependent upon 24-hour nursing care.

“He would make spontaneous sounds and occasional words, but could not engage in conversation.”

The court was told Mr Greig was unable to walk, talk or care for himself.”

Six months after the incident Mr Greig was moved to the brain injury centre at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Dundee.

He became visibly unwell and was struggling to breath and died on 5 April 2023.

The court heard that on the night of the murder student Lewis Webster was passing on a bus when he saw two men talking at the top of a hill.

He watched as Mr Greig was pushed backwards down an embankment and hit his head on the road.

Mr Webster, 22, said: “It wasn’t just messing around – it was a proper push.

“The one who hit his head was lying on the road. The guy who pushed him didn’t stop to hang around.”

Mr Webster recalled blood had pooled around Mr Greig’s neck and one of his legs began to shake.

Greig, from Dundee, denied struggling with the taxi driver, pushing him and repeatedly kicking or stamping on Mr Ward’s head.

He denied murdering Mr Ward and causing him to die from his injuries.

Previously, in January 2023, Greig had been jailed for five years and four months for the attack.

Then he admitted assaulting Mr Ward to his severe injury, permanent disfigurement, permanent impairment and danger of his life.

But following his death three months later the Crown raised the murder charge.

Lady Drummond deferred sentence until March.

Greig’s multiple previous convictions included dishonesty, knife possession, drugs and road traffic offences.