A KILLER has been jailed for life after knifing a man in a street attack and trying to murder the victim's friend.
Christopher O'Shea was ordered to serve at least 18 years in jail after he was earlier convicted of murdering Craig McSporran.
A judge told O'Shea, 26, that the fatal knife blow inflicted on the victim was "a particularly savage one".
O'Shea, formerly of Linwood, in Renfrewshire, was accused of murdering Mr McSporran, 31, on July 8 last year. He was also accused of the attempted murder of Derek MacNeil, 32. Lord Stewart told O'Shea at the High Court in Edinburgh that in returning guilty verdicts the jury at his trial "must have rejected your defence of alibi".
The judge told him: "I am bound by law to impose a sentence of life imprisonment for the murder."
Lord Stewart said he was also required to set a minimum period O'Shea must serve in jail, but added that the question of public protection and release would be for the Parole Board to consider in due course.
The court heard that O'Shea, a father of two, continued to deny his guilt.
Lord Stewart also jailed O'Shea for 10 years for the murder bid on Mr MacNeil, but ordered that it should run concurrently with the prison term for the murder of Mr McSporran.
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