Life sentence for man who knifed friend to death

A 20-year-old man has been sentenced to life for the murder of his friend in Glasgow.

James Wilson was 18 when he attacked 21-year-old Ryan Willcox with a knife at a house in the Castlemilk area of the city on 28 July 2023.

The two were said to have argued over a dog's paw being stood on.

Judge Lord Scott ordered that Wilson should serve a minimum term of 14 years in jail before he can be considered for release on parole.

Wilson had denied murder but a jury rejected his claim that he had acted in self-defence and he was convicted at the High Court in Glasgow on 7 March.

Sentencing on Wednesday, Lord Scott said he had read victim impact statements from the mother, father and sister of the victim.

"They each describe the continuing daily impact on them in many ways, including their mental health," he said.

The judge said Mr Wilcox's father explained he is haunted by the images of his son in the mortuary following his death.

He said: "It is clear there has been a significant impact on that family which continues."

Wilson had denied murdering Mr Willcox by striking him on the body with a knife at his home in Stravanan Road.

Emergency services were called to the property where the victim was lying in a garden.

A resident said Wilson was "pacing up and down" and looking agitated. He knelt beside the victim and asked a paramedic if there was anything he could do to help.

A police officer who attended the scene was asked if Wilson said anything about what had occurred.

She told the court that he had said: "He stood on the dug's paw and we were arguing. He had the knife, we got in a tussle and then this happened."

Defence counsel Donald Findlay KC said it was "depressing and distressing" that a young life was lost and another "blighted, if not ruined".

He said: "The accused and deceased were friends. There is no history of animus between them in any way.

"It is clear from the evidence that something happened in Mr Wilson's house that resulted in a confrontation between the two which ended up with a knife being used in a way which brought about a tragic death."

He asked the judge to take into account Wilson's age, the lack of premeditation in the offence and the immediate remorse shown.

"It is an utterly tragic case. It should not have happened. It need not have happened," he said.