A murderer who threw “prison napalm” over a man before stabbing him in the heart has been jailed for at least 20 years.
Gavin Gallagher, 33, claimed he was acting in self-defence when he launched the boiling water and sugar mix over Stephen Gray, 23, before knifing him.
However, he was convicted of murder and accused of staging the crime scene in an attempt to cover his tracks.
In his sentencing statement, Judge Lord Mulholland told Gallagher: “I was not surprised that the jury rejected self-defence and provocation.
“It seemed to me that your defence of self-defence was staged, and your lies unravelled.”
The fatal attack occurred at a block of flats in Glasgow’s Southcroft Street on 3 November 2023.
Lord Mulholland said Mr Gray was bare chested when Gallagher threw the boiling water and sugar mix over him.
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The concoction is often referred to as “prison napalm” due to being used by inmates during assaults.
The judge said the vast majority of burns were to Mr Gray’s back.
Lord Mulholland said: “He was bare chested, and the burns caused by what you did must have been very painful. You can see that from the photographs of his injuries.”
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Gallagher then stabbed Mr Gray twice with a large kitchen knife.
The judge said: “One of these blows penetrated his heart and caused massive bleeding which led to his death. This injury was unsurvivable.
“You then did what you could to set up a defence of self-defence in an attempt to cover your tracks.
“You placed a knife alongside his dying body and said to a neighbour that it was the deceased’s knife.
“You told anyone who would listen that you killed him in self-defence.”
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Gallagher was convicted of murder at the High Court in Glasgow last month.
He returned to the dock for sentencing on Wednesday, when he was handed a life sentence with at least 20 years in jail.
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Detective Superintendent Hannah Edward said: “Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of Stephen and while we know nothing can change what has happened, I hope this brings them some degree of closure as they try to move forward.
“This was a shocking attack and Gallagher will now face the consequences of his despicable actions.”
