A Scots murderer who stabbed a man to death before boasting he had left his victim "lying like a teabag" has been jailed for life.
Ray Currie, 44, knifed William Campbell just hours after the country had been put into lockdown in March 2020.
The High Court in Glasgow heard how the 37-year-old was stabbed nine times during a "vicious attack" in the city’s Springburn area.
Currie was convicted of murder, with Lord Armstrong warning he’d be behind bars for at least 18 years before he’ll be eligible for parole.
He revealed Currie had 72 previous convictions, including for offences of assault and assault and robbery involving weapons.
He added: “This was a vicious attack. In all, you inflicted nine stab wounds on your victim."
During proceedings earlier this year, the court heard how Mr Campbell didn’t survive the assault. The fatal attack occurred in the back courtyard of a tenement in Elmvale Street, Springburn on March 24 last year.
The court heard claims that there was an earlier altercation between Currie - who lived nearby - and another man.
Witness Paige Bain told jurors how she then saw Currie attacking William.
She initially thought the victim had been repeatedly punched.
Paige and two women raced over to help William and one of them was described as "screaming hysterically" in horror.
She then recalled Currie running past and stating: "How do you feel that your pal is lying there like a teabag?"
Currie had offered to plead guilty to the reduced charge of culpable homicide before the trial.
But jurors heard how he had remarked to police: "I am responsible for f**k all."
In evidence, Currie claimed he had feared for his own safety.
However, prosecutor Mark McGuire put to him: "You stabbed him nine times. You quite literally left him perforated.
"That is why you referred to him lying like a teabag.”
Defence solicitor advocate John Scott QC said that Currie was now on a methadone programme in prison.
Mr Scott said Currie was previously the victim of serious violence and added: "His face bears the scar of that."
Mr Scott said that on the day of the crime Currie had made decisions which he now realised "were absolutely the wrong decisions".
The lawyer added: ”He deeply regrets the impact of his decisions on Mr Campbell and his family.”
Lord Armstrong said he took into account that Currie's past criminality was related to his abuse of illicit drugs
The judge said he was in no doubt that relatives of Mr Campbell have been deeply affected by his death.
He said the offence involved "the grossly excessive use of a bladed weapon" by Currie.
Sentence was deferred for judge Lord Armstrong to obtain reports about Currie’s background..
