Two killers guilty of murder after a man was stabbed to death have been jailed for a total of at least 34 and a half years.
Cameron Woods, 27, and Stacey Balfour, 24, were sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow following the death of Robert Fisher.
The 26-year-old was fatally attacked at flats in Paisley, Renfrewshire, in July 2023.
Prosecutors stated it was Woods who stabbed Mr Fisher with his then partner Balfour, “acting in concert”, knowing there would be violence.
The pair had been found guilty of murder following a trial last month.
They were each handed a life sentence – Woods was jailed for a minimum of 18 and a half years, with Balfour jailed for up to 16 years.
The killing occurred after all three had been with others at a flat at the tower block.
A witness said Woods had been seen at one stage with a large kitchen knife.
Balfour had shown someone the small lockback blade later used in the killing. It had been attached to a set of keys.
The court heard the atmosphere later became “volatile” between those at the flat, including Mr Fisher.
In her speech to jurors, prosecutor Erin Campbell said it was clear “the situation escalated”.
She said this eventually led to Mr Fisher being stabbed “in what amounted to a murderous attack”.
The victim managed to stagger out of the flat with blood on his face and T-shirt.
A man dialled 999 as Mr Fisher groaned in the background: “I have been stabbed.”
He was rushed to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow but he never recovered and passed away there four days later.
The court heard that Mr Fisher had suffered five separate stab wounds as well as possible defensive injuries.
Ms Campbell put to jurors: “If you are trying to strike someone in the head or chest, then there are only two possibilities.
“Either you are deliberately trying to kill the person.
“Or you are so angry and wild in the moment, you have total disregard if the person lives or dies.”
The advocate depute stated Mr Fisher had been subjected to a “frenzied attack”.
Woods was later stopped by police at a cycle track. He was found with the murder weapon, which had Mr Fisher’s blood on it.
Balfour had initially told officers that the last time she had seen Mr Fisher was when he left the flat with another man.
Donald Findlay, defending Woods, said the thug had not co-operated with compiling a pre-sentencing social work report.
The KC added: “On the day of this matter, no one set out looking for trouble. Something clearly happened which led to a conflict. There was a reaction to something.”
Balfour’s KC Thomas Ross said she had previously suffered a “traumatic” incident in 2014 and a had been in a “toxic relationship” before the killing.
Follow STV News on WhatsApp
Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
