Knife killer gets life sentence

Tributes were paid to Allan Ogden following his murder last year

A man has been jailed for life after murdering his unarmed victim with a kitchen knife.

James Reilly, 30, admitted stabbing Allan Ogden, 24, after a row in a flat in Moodiesburn, North Lanarkshire, in April last year.

The attack severed one of Mr Ogden's major arteries and he died of his injuries in hospital 42 days later.

A judge at the High Court in Glasgow told Reilly he must serve at least 12 and a half years in prison.

The court heard that Reilly and Mr Ogden were at a flat in the town's Braeside Avenue on 28 April 2007 when they started arguing.

The two men went outside, but Reilly had grabbed a kitchen knife without Mr Ogden knowing.

You deliberately used a knife on an unarmed man. Significant force was used to strike the fatal blow Lord Woolman

Alex Prentice, prosecuting, said the accused took hold of Mr Ogden by the scruff of the neck.

Mr Prentice continued: "His hand was out by his side. The accused stabbed the deceased on the head and body with the knife he had taken from the kitchen."

The court was told witness Gary Sutherland came out and saw Mr Ogden "moaning in pain" with blood streaming from his head.

Mr Sutherland shouted at Reilly: "What have you done?"

Reilly, from Chryston, North Lanarkshire, walked off as others came to his victim's aid.

Mr Ogden, of Cumbernauld, was taken to hospital suffering from stab wounds to his chest, head, neck, ear and stomach. He died as a result of his injuries on 10 June.

'Shock and remorse'

Reilly was charged after his DNA was found on the knife handle.

Lord Woolman said he had received an "eloquent" letter from Mr Ogden's parents describing the "devastation" of their loss.

Paul McBride QC, defending Reilly, said his client had no record of violence and had shown "genuine shock and remorse" for what he had done.

Mr McBride said Reilly had taken the knife as he feared he was going to be assaulted by others at the house.

Passing sentence, judge Lord Woolman said: "You deliberately used a knife on an unarmed man. Significant force was used to strike the fatal blow.

"The great tragedy is the avoidable death of Allan Ogden."