Shopkeeper killer jailed for life

McGeechan will serve a minimum of 20 years Brother's killer 'an evil coward'

A man who stabbed an Ayrshire shopkeeper to death in an unprovoked attack has been sentenced to life in prison at the High Court in Edinburgh.

John McGeechan, 47, was convicted last month of murdering Amjid Ismail, 34, as he looked after his family's shop in Maybole in November 2006.

The judge, Lady Clark, told McGeechan he would serve a minimum of 20 years before being eligible for parole.

She said McGeechan "showed no mercy or concern against the victim".

At an earlier hearing, the court had heard how Mr Ismail had been left in charge of the shop while his family attended his younger brother's passing out parade for Strathclyde Police.

During the attack by McGeechan he was stabbed eight times in the face and neck.

Mr Ismail tried to phone for help but mistakenly called a neighbour whose answering machine recorded the attack.

He was later discovered by a member of the public and taken to Ayr Hospital, but died a short time later.

Forensic officers gathered evidence at the scene

At the end of McGeechan's trial the court heard that it was his second fatal stabbing in 12 years.

In 1996 he admitted culpable homicide after stabbing 24-year-old Martin Siegerson for throwing snowballs at his dogs in Cranhill, Glasgow.

McGeechan served more than nine years of a 10-year sentence for the killing.

In a statement, Mr Ismail's police officer brother, Amjid, said: "There is no doubt in my mind that the individual responsible for this crime is an evil, cold and pathetic coward who clearly has no respect or dignity towards other members of the public.

"As a result of his actions there will always be a permanent gap that will never be filled again.

"Today marks the end of the formal proceedings and I welcome the closure that this will hopefully bring to the family."