A murdered man was heard begging his killer to stop the onslaught days before his charred remains were discovered in a public park.
Terrified William Leiper cried out "mate, please stop" as Jude McPhie attacked him then conspired to dispose of his dead body in the most horrific manner.
Less than two years after the 31-year-old's smouldering body was found by a jogger and dog walker in Househill Park, Pollok, justice was finally served at the High Court in Glasgow today.
READ MORE: Glasgow murderer jailed for life after charred body found in wheelie bin dumped in public park
And judge Lord Young told the 42-year-old killer that only he knows why he carried out the "murderous" attack.
Sentencing McPhie to serve at least 18 years behind bars, he told him: "Only you know for sure what caused you to launch the murderous attack on him.
"You told the author of your social work report that an argument broke out and you were attacked by him.
"Nothing in the written narration confirms that. It is clear from the injuries that this was a sustained and vicious attack involving a hammer.
"He was heard begging you to stop the attack.
"After murdering him, you tried to evade justice by cleaning the area and arranging to dispose the body with your co-accused."
During the trial it was revealed that Mr Leiper was an associate of McPhie and Christopher O'Reilly, who pled guilty to attempting to defeat the ends of justice and was jailed for five years and five months.
The victim turned up at McPhie's home in Hartstone Road in Pollok on the night of his death and demanded money.
A row broke out and a woman in an upstairs room later said she heard Mr Leiper cry out, then later spotted McPhie with what appeared to be a body lying on the doorstep.
McPhie and O'Reilly later bought lighter fuel and bleach from a petrol station and in neighbours later reported an "unusual burning smell" coming from the garden.
Two days later they were seen dragging the green bin towards the park where Mr Leiper's remains were later discovered in view of a children's play park and homes.
When Mr Leiper's body was finally discovered on August 4, crammed into the wheelie it as so badly burned that the dog walker who found him first thought it was a burning log.
Lord Young added: “You set fire to his body and left him in woods to find. This was the final indignity for his family.”
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