Killer gets life sentence for ‘ brutal’ murder of man
AKILLER who has “huge regrets” for the death of the man he stabbed 25 times has been given a life sentence for the “brutal” murder.
Jonathan Graham, 47, was told he’ll have to serve at least 19 years for murdering Craig Shaw at a house in Drumchapel, Glasgow, on April 21 last year.
The High Court in Edinburgh heard Graham’s lawyer Gary Allan KC say how his client still maintains that the police have got the wrong man for the killing. But Mr Allan said that Graham has a “great sadness” for Mr Shaw’s passing.
The court had earlier heard how Graham was caught on CCTV entering and leaving Mr Shaw’s flat in the city’s Jedworth Road. Detectives identified Graham from his “distinctive” walking style.
Yesterday, judge Douglas Brown told Graham that the law obliged him to impose a life sentence for the crime of murder.
He added: “You struck him with blunt force on the head and body and you repeatedly struck him on the head and body with a bladed weapon.
“The crime was brutal and ferocious in the state that you stabbed Craig Shaw a total of 25 times on the neck, chest, abdomen and buttocks.
“Eight of these wounds were potentially fatal. The injury to the heart was so severe that death was inevitable within minutes. The punishment part will be fixed at 19 years.”
Graham, a prisoner of HMP Barlinnie, observed proceedings yesterday via video link.
He was convicted of murder last month following a trial at the High Court in Glasgow. Sentence had been deferred for the
court to obtain reports on Graham’s background.
During proceedings, jurors heard how Graham and Mr Shaw had been in regular contact before the death.
A number of the victim’s associates tried getting in touch with Mr Shaw on the day that he lost his life.
The court heard how they were unaware of what had happened to their friend. The court heard that one of these associates was a man called William Doogan.
In his closing speech, prosecutor Greg Farrell said: “He appears to have been worried as this was out of character.
“He made various attempts to get in contact with Mr Shaw.”
Jurors heard how Mr Doogan turned up a few times at his door, but was then eventually told Mr
Shaw had been found dead.
It was Alexander McFarlane and Thomas Rossini – both knew the victim – who discovered the body on April 22.
Mr McFarlane forced the door open after he also did not hear from Mr Shaw.
Mr Farrell said: “There was a cushion over his face and a polythene bag. He was obviously dead.”
The court heard Graham’s DNA was found on Mr Shaw’s face, hooded top, wrist brace and sock.
Detectives also did a trawl of CCTV around the time of the killing. Graham was also seen going into the front entrance of the close where Mr Shaw lived at 9.48pm that night and leaving at 10.16pm.
Mr Farrell told the jurors that they had enough evidence to satisfy them of Graham’s guilt.
He added: “I submit this was Graham and that, at some point during those 28 minutes, he entered Craig Shaw’s flat and killed him.”
Graham was noted to also have the same walking “gait” as the man on the footage.
Graham was later held for the killing.
It was also discovered he had deleted all earlier contact with Mr Shaw from his phone. The court heard Mr Shaw had been stabbed “repeatedly and deliberately” a total of 25 times.
Yesterday, Mr Allan told the court that Graham maintained he was innocent. But he said that Graham respected the jury’s verdict and knew he would have to go to prison.
Mr Allan said he had read victim impact statements which had been submitted to the court from members of Mr Shaw’s family.
He said the statements showed how the family members were suffering from “heartache” caused by the loss of their relative.
He added: “There’s nothing that I can say that assuages any of that heartache.
“There is nothing that Mr Graham can say that will assuage that either.
“For what it is worth Jonathan Graham has indicated he feels a great sadness by the death of Mr Shaw – it is a matter of huge regret that Mr Shaw has died.
“Whilst these expressions are no doubt meaningless – and at worst an insult – to Mr Shaw’s family it is something that still needs to be said.”
Judge Brown also told Graham that his sentence would be backdated to begin in May last year – the time when he was first taken into custody and remanded.