THE car park killer who claimed the life of a young Greenock man has been jailed for nine years.

Jordan Cunningham, 28, mowed down Adam Anderson in his Audi A4 beside Broomhill Court on January 2, with the incident sparked by a row over a funeral.

The High Court heard that Mr Anderson's friend Paul Dowds was assaulted by Cunningham and others the previous day after he had not turned up for the funeral of a mutual friend.

During the clash in the car park, Mr Anderson, 22, was tragically crushed to death, with Cunningham speeding off and then torching his car.

He was yesterday sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow having earlier admitted to a charge of culpable homicide.

Lady Drummond also ordered he be supervised for a further three years on his release.

Prosecutor Lorraine Glancy KC earlier told how there had been an ongoing personal feud between the men and their associates.

The original reason was unknown, but the killing is thought to have been 'triggered' by the attack on Mr Dowds.

He had turned up on January 1 at the block of flats in Greenock where Cunningham lived, to visit someone.

Ms Glancy: "He was asked to enter the flat of Cunningham, by him and two others.

"He was challenged as to why he had not attended the funeral of their mutual friend."

As he left, Dowds was then punched and kicked by the group and later told his friend Mr Anderson what happened.

The court heard Cunningham's Audi later ended up damaged.

He was spotted in his vehicle at the car park on the afternoon of January 2 and Mr Anderson and a friend were then seen by witnesses running at 'full pelt' towards Cunningham.

Mr Anderson was described as being on a collision course with the Audi.

Cunningham went on to strike him with the vehicle and drove over him before tearing out of the car park.

An ambulance was called but Mr Anderson had a cardiac arrest.

He had suffered severe blunt force trauma to the chest, head and stomach area, multiple fractures to his pelvis and ribs with one tearing into his lung.

Cunningham went on to torch his Audi at a dirt track at a remote location known as Donnies Farm in Greenock.

He told an associate what happened at the car park, insisting Mr Anderson and other man had been armed.

Cunningham also plead guilty to the assault on Mr Dowds and attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Brian McConnachie KC, defending, said: "It does seem to be the situation that what started out as a relatively minor dispute has resulted in the death of a young man and another facing custody."

The defence advocate said any initial row did not involve either Cunningham or the victim, but others linked to them.

Sentencing the killer, Lady Drummond said: "You hit Mr Anderson with your car knocking him to the ground and drove over him.

"You drove off at speed and then set fire to your car to try and cover up your actions.

"I have read statements from Mr Anderson's mother and brother.

"She said her world fell apart into a million pieces."