A BINMAN was today jailed for at least 14 years for a brutal Glasgow knife murder.
Colin Lauder had claimed he was acting in self-defence when he stabbed Ian Millar 14 times and sliced his jugular vein.
But after being found guilty of murder, he was sentence to life, with a minimum of 14 years before he could apply for parole.
Passing sentence at the High Court in Glasgow, Lord Hardie told Lauder: "You armed yourself with a kitchen knife with a blade of between 10 and 14 inches.
"You struck Mr Millar repeatedly with the knife, inflicting no fewer than 14 cuts or stabs to his body resulting in his death.
"The jury clearly rejected your alternative explanation that you were acting in self-defence.
"After the attack you attempted to cover your tracks by washing the knife and perhaps also attempting to clean blood from your trainers and jeans.
"You actions show that you were aware you had inflicted serious injuries upon Mr Millar. Despite that you did nothing to help him."
In a statement read out in court, Mr Millar's parents Alex and Jean said they were "devastated" by their son's murder.
They said: "Our lives have been destroyed by his death. It is made worse by the fact he died violently and on his own."
The couple said he was a keen and talented footballer, had a six-year-old son Liam, and had been looking forward to coaching him and playing with him.
Mr and Mrs Millar are intending to seek specialist bereavement counselling to help them cope.
Lauder, 25, of Springhill Court, Rutherglen, was convicted after trial of murdering 23-year-old Mr Millar on January 29 last year.
The trial heard a row broke out in a Tollcross flat. It ended with Lauder launching the knife attack.
Lauder, who worked for East Renfrewshire Council, admitted taking a cocktail of drink and drugs on the night.
But he claimed that he was attacked, and simply defended himself against Mr Millar and another man.
He told the court both men kicked and punched him repeatedly and stamped on his head.
However, the only injury a doctor who examined him could find was a scratch on his hand.
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article