Former soldier stabbed landlady 27 times in a 'frenzied and very brutal' attack over £2k debt (3 Pics)

A row broke out, with John Haugen claiming he was owed money by Grace Kissell, who ran a childminding and after-school care business

 Murderer: Haugen called his father and sister and said he had killed someone

A former soldier stabbed his landlady 27 times in a “horrific, frenzied and very brutal” attack over a £2,000 debt.

John Haugen, 41, admitted murdering mum-of-one Grace Kissell in the home he rented from her earlier this year.

The High Court in Glasgow heard Grace, 32, rented the flat in Renfrewshire, from a housing association then sublet it to Haugen in January 2014 without telling the landlord.

Paul Brown said: “The accused would make payments towards rent and council tax.”

 Terror: Grace Kissell received a text on the day she died

A row broke out, with Haugen claiming he was owed £2,000 by Grace, who ran a childminding and after-school care business.

Judge Lady Rae said the killing was “horrific, frenzied and very brutal”, reports the Daily Record.

On the day Grace died, May 14, Haugen sent her a text that said: “I can be nasty too Grace, don’t want to be, I just want what I’m owed and thats it.”

Grace, who lived in the town’s Avon Drive, went to the flat in Cowal Drive to see Haugen.

She then texted a friend saying a pal had “kicked off at her”.

At 2pm, Glasgow airport driver Haugen called his father and sister and said he had killed someone.

He told his sister: “She kicked off. I picked up the first thing that came to hand, which happened to be a kitchen knife.

"I’ve stabbed her.”

Guilt: Haugen admitted murdering the mum-of-one at Glasgow High Court

He then called police and told them: “I’ve just committed a murder.”

A post mortem revealed one stab wound sliced through Grace’s heart and another a major artery.

Grace’s sister is Paisley woman Mharie Kissell, whose partner Daryll Fitch was killed on a fishing trip in nearby Bridge of Weir seven weeks later .

Mharie said: “Haugen was living there and basically it was an argument over money. I don’t know how it happened but it came as a terrible shock.

“The verdict has come round really quickly and that has taken me aback.”

Lady Rae deferred sentence until later this month for reports.