STEAK KNIFE MURDERER GETS 18 YRS
Thug was armed with two blades when he targeted group of pals
A MURDERER who stabbed a man to death and got rid of his clothes in a river was given a life sentence.
Kevin Geoghegan, 46, pounced on Peter Kirkwood, 24, in Lanark, on July 16, 2022.
Geoghegan had earlier barged into Kirkwood and his group of friends as they left a nearby pub.
The attacker – who was armed with two knives – went on to grab a traffic cone and goaded the group.
Geoghegan then struck Peter’s body and arm at least seven times, with the fatal blow entering his upper chest.
He fled the scene, cleaned himself up, changed his clothing and dumped them in the River Clyde.
Geoghegan was found guilty of murder at the High Court in Glasgow. He was also convicted of assaulting Peter’s friend Erdzhan Mamedov to his injury.
Geoghegan, of Lanark, was given a minimum punishment of 18 years by judge Lord Clark.
He said: “The murder involved stabbing Mr Kirkwood at least seven times, with one of them causing his death. The knife entered his chest cavity, went through his lung, penetrating the heart, damaging an artery which gave rise to his death afterwards.This was a vindictive attack with serious brutality.
There is no sentence I can impose which can alleviate the devastating impact of the family members of Mr Kirkwood.”
Peter’s family and friends – who all wore his favourite colour red in the public gallery – were visibly emotional after the verdict was read out.
The court heard that Peter, Erdzhan and their friends had been at the Wallace Cave pub.
Geoghegan had been at a friend’s house drinking and walked a route towards his mother’s home.
Jurors watched CCTV of agitated Geoghegan shouting at passing cars and arguing with a taxi driver.
He was seen to put his hand in the open window and striking his head.
Peter and his pals left the pub about 1am when Geoghegan ran and barged through the group. He then went on to pick up the traffic cone.
Geoghegan told the court he and the group shouted at each other with him being heard to say, “Ha ha, dafty”.
Prosecutor Erin Campbell asked Geoghegan if he was goading the group and he replied: “I suppose so.”
Geoghegan carried on walking down the road, which Miss Campbell suggested was him “waiting” on the group. He told the court that he had two serrated steak knives in his pocket but denied he was looking for trouble.
Police attended after the attack to see Peter’s “inconsolable” brother Mark cradling him.
He was heard to say: “Don’t die, don’t die, you are my brother.”