Racist knife thug locked up
04 March 2009 - Evening Times
Source: Evening Times
4 March 2009
A RACIST thug who repeatedly plunged a knife into a 14-year-old boy as he tried to flee has been locked up for four years and three months.
Grant Murphy, 18, was on bail at the time, accused of racially aggravated behaviour - which later earned him a separate sentence of 20 days' detention.
Murphy's young victim - who cannot be named for legal reasons - was stabbed eight times and had wounds to his liver and kidney, which put his life in danger.
A court heard trouble in a nightclub in Glasgow city centre spilled out into Queen Street.
Murphy pulled out a lock-back knife and ran towards a group of Asian youths, followed by two friends.
The youths ran away but the 14-year-old boy tripped and fell and Murphy stabbed him.
The boy staggered to his feet and managed to rejoin his friends in Argyle Street. They called an ambulance and he was rushed to hospital.
Murphy was arrested nearby and police saw him drop a knife from his trousers.
At the High Court in Edinburgh, he admitted assaulting the group of Asian youths by brandishing a knife at them and admitted the offence was racially aggravated.
Murphy also pleaded guilty to assaulting the 14-year-old to the danger of his life and admitted the attack was racist.
Judge Lord Hodge made an order extending Murphy's licence conditions for three years after the end of his sentence.
Murphy's record includes assault and robbery and three offences of carrying a knife.