Teenager jailed for 16 years over Barrhead murder

A TEENAGER convicted of killing a man has been jailed for at least 16 years, despite trying to blame the attack on his brother.

Patrick Shields stabbed George McLaughlin, 45, near to a block of flats in Gertrude Place, Barrhead, on 3 April last year.

The victim was struck five times before bleeding to death as a result of his wounds.

Shields had blamed his older brother Thomas, who was said to have confessed to attacking Mr McLaughlin.

Judge Kenneth MacIver jailed him for life at the High Court in Glasgow.

He told Shields: “From the evidence at the trial it appears that while George McLaughlin seemed to have left his home to confront you, he was not armed with a weapon.

“Your use of a knife is obviously inexcusable and, perhaps inevitably, lead to a death.”

The judge said the use of bladed weapons was a “scourge on society”.

The teenager showed no emotion as he was lead handcuffed to the cells.

A trial last December heard the families of the accused and the victim did not get on.

Shields and Mr McLaughlin were said to have been involved in a confrontation in Gertrude Place.

Mr McLaughlin was left fatally injured after a major artery was struck.