Man jailed for boiling water and knife murder

Gavin Gallagher attacked his victim at his flat in Govan

A killer who threw a mixture of boiling water mixed with sugar over a man, then stabbed him in the heart has been told he will spend at least 20 years in prison.

Gavin Gallagher claimed he was in "fight or flight" mode and lunged in self-defence when he fatally wounded Stephen Gray, 23, at a flat in Glasgow in November 2023.

But a jury convicted the 34-year-old of murder and a judge who sentenced him said he was guilty of a "terrible" crime.

Gallagher, who had a string of violence and weapons convictions, was jailed for life with a minimum term of 20 years before he becomes eligible for parole.

An earlier trial at the High Court in Glasgow heard how Gallagher had been with Mr Gray and others at a flat in Govan on the day of the attack.

In his evidence he claimed Mr Gray had ended up "raging" and left, but returned later when Gallagher was alone.

He said he looked through a peephole in the door and believed Mr Gray was armed.

Gallagher said he armed himself with a knife and grabbed a kettle of boiling water, intending to "scare" the other man..

But when he opened the door, he claimed Mr Gray ran at him so he threw the water over him and stabbed him.

"He dropped instantly," he told the court. "My heart sank. It was horrible."

Gallagher then dialled 999 and said he felt "guilty every day" for what he had done.

But prosecutors rejected claims he was acting in self-defence, and said he had murdered Mr Gray.

The court heard victim Stephen Gray had spent time with Gallagher and others before the attack

After jurors returned a guilty verdict, it was revealed Gallagher had a lengthy criminal record including violence, weapons, robbery and drugs.

The judge Lord Mulholland told Gallagher: "You have been convicted of a terrible murder.

"You stabbed him straight through the heart - there was absolutely no possibility of that poor man surviving.

"Not only that, before you stabbed him, you poured boiling water laced with sugar over him.

"This is an appalling thing to do to another human being. You also have a horrific criminal record."

Det Supt Hannah Edward, of Police Scotland, said it was a shocking attack but said Gallagher would now face the consequences of his "despicable" actions.

She added: "Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of Stephen and while we know nothing can change what has happened I hope this brings them some degree of closure as they try to move forward."