A thug jailed for murdering his pal has been told by a judge that he has “wasted his life” by dedicating it to drink and drugs.
Lord Boyd made the comments moments before giving Reece Sweeney, 22, a life sentence at the High Court in Edinburgh today.
The court previously heard how Sweeney stabbed 33-year-old Jamie McGready to death a flat in Glasgow's Govan.
Jurors heard how Sweeney assaulted Mr McGready after they started arguing about cans of lager.
Friends and mercy crews tried to save Jamie - nicknamed Jaggy - but he later died in hospital.
Sweeney had denied killing his victim, whose partner was pregnant at the time. But jurors rejected his story and Lord Boyd told him he’d serve a minimum of 16 years for the horrifying attack on on August 31 2020.
Sign up to Glasgow Live newsletters for more headlines straight to your inbox
Passing sentence, Lord Boyd made reference to a report written by social workers about Sweeney’s background.
He added: “The social work report makes depressing reading. It tells of how you do not go out anywhere without being armed with a knife in the pretence that you need it for your own protection.
“I have read of the devastating impact that the loss of Mr McGready has had on his family and friends.
“You left school without any qualifications and you have never had a job. You have never amounted to anything. You have wasted your life with drink and drugs.
“The sentence for murder is life and I will impose a punishment part of 16 years.”
Sweeney, also of Govan, Glasgow, had denied murdering Mr McGready during his trial at the city’s high court in December last year.
Jurors heard how the accused and his victim had been at the flat in the city's Summertown Path, where Michael O'Halloran lived with his 19 year-old son Sean-Paul.
Sean Paul O'Halloran recalled there being a "silly argument" between Jamie and Sweeney.
Asked by prosecutor Bill McVicar what it was about, the teenager replied: "I think it was about cans of beer or something."
Mr O’Halloran said he had been playing on a tablet device while this was going on before becoming aware of violence.
He said Sweeney "lunged" at Jamie and that was when he got "stabbed".
Jamie was said to have stated: "You have done me. You have killed me."
Mr O’Halloran’s dad Michael said he had known Jamie since he was a child. He also said he was only aware something had happened when a woman also there shouted.
He found Jamie injured and said Sweeney had "gone".
Recalling trying to help stricken Jamie, Michael told Mr McVicar he carried out CPR for 12 minutes.
The dad went on: "I was shouting at Jamie: 'Stay with us, think of your daughter, think of your partner'.
"I was trying to get a pulse, but there was no pulse.
"I was just telling Jamie not to let go."
Jamie - who also lived in Govan - was rushed to the city's Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, but he never recovered.
He had suffered a number of wounds including one in the middle of the chest.
On Friday, defence advocate Victoria Young asked Lord Boyd to take her client’s age into account in passing sentence.
She added: “He is still a young man. He is 22 and was 21 at the time of the assault.”
However, Lord Boyd told him a life sentence available to him.
He added: “You describe Mr McGready as a friend but he seems to be more like a father figure to you”
