21/05/2008

Man Gets Life For Shopkeeper Killing

A man has been sentenced to life in prison for killing a shopkeeper.

Forty-seven-year-old John McGeechan was convicted last month of stabbing Amjid Ismail, 34, at his family's shop in Maybole, Ayrshire, in November 2006.

It is reported that McGeechan had tried to rob the shop but that Mr Ismail had refused to hand over any cash.

Mr Ismail had been looking after the shop as his family attended a police 'passing out' ceremony for his brother.

Presiding over the case, Judge Lady Clark said that McGeechan who "showed no mercy or concern against the victim" would serve a minimum of 20 years before being eligible for parole.

Mr Ismail, who is understood to have had learning difficulties, was found by a member of the public after the attack and was taken to Ayr Hospital where he later died from his injuries.

McGeechan had previously denied murder but was convicted unanimously by a jury at the High Court in Kilmarnock.

Speaking after the trial, the Interim District Fiscal for Ayr, James Kelman said it "was an unprovoked, vicious attack where the accused took the life of an innocent man while he was at work in the shop his family owned for 20 years".

It has been reported that McGeechan had been serving 10 years for the stabbing and killing of Martin Siegerson, 24, in Glasgow in 1996.

He was released after six years in jail and moved to Maybole.

(DS)

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