Man, 30, Convicted Of Springburn Murder

The brother of a murder victim stabbed an innocent stranger to death in a brutal shopping centre killing. John Paul Bird knifed John Bulloch in the heart when the victim attempted to stop the thug hassling two women for a cigarette. Mr Bulloch bravely stepped in after he heard Bird threatening to gouge out the women's eyes for trying to ignore him. A jury watched harrowing footage of the 40 year-old being attacked before staggering to his death at Glasgow's Springburn Shopping Centre in May last year. Bird denied murder claiming he could not control his actions at the time due to an "abnormality of mind" But, the 30 year-old was convicted of the charge following a trial at the High Court in Glasgow. Bird - who has a long history of violence - was locked up for a minimum 18 years as a judge paid tribute to the "public spirited" Mr Bulloch who lost his life trying to help. The killer was jailed eight years after his brother Jason was knifed to death in the city's Balornock. Dad-of-two Mr Bulloch - who lived with his elderly gran - was fatally struck on May 3 last year. Nicola Jackson told the jury how she had been standing outside the shopping centre smoking with friends when Bird approached. He asked for a cigarette - the 28 year-old told him no, but the thug became aggressive. Miss Jackson recalled: "He said he was either going to stab me or my friend in the eye if one of us did not give him a draw of a cigarette. "I asked him to go away. He kept asking and asking - he wasn't leaving where we were." It was then Mr Bulloch heard what was happening and stepped in. Miss Jackson said she remembered the dad saying to Bird: "Why are you speaking to females like - she has asked you to please go away. Just please go away." But, raging Bird - armed with a blade - quickly turned on Mr Bulloch. Miss Jackson added: "He put a hand in his pocket and pulled the knife out of his pocket - he just stabbed him." The horror was caught on CCTV and footage showed a bleeding Mr Bulloch stagger inside the shopping centre before slumping to the ground. He never recovered from the attack having been stabbed in the heart. Lawyers for Bird had lodged a special defence at the trial claiming he had an "inability to control his conduct" at the time due to an "abnormality of mind". His mother Angela gave evidence and claimed Bird had been badly affected since the murder of his brother Jason. The 16 year-old was stabbed to death in 2007. Three people were later convicted in connection with the attack. Mrs Bird told the court: "He just became very withdrawn - he just seemed down all the time. He became depressed." But, the jury heard after the verdict, Bird had a long criminal record with convictions for assault, robbery and possession of offensive weapons. This included a 30-month prison term in 2011. Judge John Beckett QC jailed Bird for life. He told him: "The public spirited Mr Bulloch intervened and asked you to leave the women alone and encouraged you to move away. "It is crystal clear that he offered you no violence or threat. "As a result of your inexcusable and gratuitous violence - with no warning - Mr Bulloch lost his life and his family lost forever the man of whom they have every reason to be proud." Bird showed no remorse as he was lead to the cells by blowing kisses at the victim's family sitting in court.