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A 34-year-old man who threw a mixture of boiling water and sugar over a man before stabbing him in the heart has been convicted of murder.<\/p>\n
Gavin Gallagher attacked Stephen Gray, 23, at his flat in the Govan area of Glasgow on 3 November 2023.<\/p>\n
Gallagher, who said he had spent part of the day with Mr Gray and others, claimed he had acted in self-defence after his victim lunged at him while holding a weapon.<\/p>\n
He told the High Court in Glasgow he used a blade of his own and water from a boiling kettle while in “fight of flight” mode. <\/p>\n
Mr Gray was pronounced dead at the scene after police were called to the flat.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Following a trial, jurors rejected Gallagher’s self-defence plea and found him guilty of murder. He now faces a life sentence.<\/p>\n
After the verdict, advocate depute William Frain-Bell told the court Gallagher already had a lengthy criminal record for offences involving violence, weapons, robbery and drugs.<\/p>\n
Judge Lord Mulholland adjourned the case until 8 October when Gallagher will learn the minimum time he will spend behind bars.<\/p>\n
The judge told him: “You have been convicted of a terrible murder.<\/p>\n
“You stabbed him straight through the heart – there was absolutely no possibility of that poor man surviving.<\/p>\n
“Not only that, before you stabbed him, you poured boiling water laced with sugar over him.<\/p>\n
“This is an appalling thing to do to another human being. You also have a horrific criminal record.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n