A machete killer who murdered a man after attacking him for several hours has died in prison.

Robert Macgillivray, 53, was found dead at HMP Grampian on Tuesday August 23 after serving just over three years of his 16 year life sentence for killing Mark Hunter in Inverness in 2012.

Mr Hunter, 37, suffered so many cuts and bruises that a pathologist carrying out a post-mortem gave up counting.

A jury at the High Court in Edinburgh heard the injuries must have been inflicted over a period of hours because Macgillivray did not have the stamina to keep hitting Mr Hunter without pausing to regain his strength.

He suffered from a number of health problems including emphysema and sat throughout the six-day trial breathing oxygen through a tube.

A doctor told the trial Macgillivray could not walk 100m without stopping.

A blood-stained machete was found in a cupboard at Macgillivray's home in Hilton, Inverness. The court was told it was used to batter Mr Hunter, the blunt edge causing bruises, or to jab him.

Forensic scientists found damage to the dead man's clothes suggesting at least 83 blows had been struck.

Medics said stamps, or possibly a jump with both feet together, which had killed Mr Hunter smashing his ribs and preventing him from breathing.

Macgillivray, who was taken to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness after his arrest, accused Mr Hunter of stealing his brandy.

He said: "He was greedy, greedy, greedy. I came down the stairs and he was drinking my Cognac."

A statement from the Scottish Prison Service said: "Robert Barr MacDougall MacGillivray, 53, a prisoner at HMP & YOI Grampian has died.

"He was convicted at Edinburgh High Court on May 9, 2013. Police Scotland have been advised and the matter will be reported to the procurator fiscal.

"Next of kin have been informed and a fatal accident inquiry may be held in due course."