Men jailed for life for murdering Dennistoun dad

Two men have been jailed for a total of 38 and a half years for murdering a father, who was trying to save his daughter.

38-year-old Paul McCann and 33 year-old Mark Moncrieff jumped on Brian Boyle outside the victim's flat in Glasgow's Dennistoun in July last year.

The 56 year-old had left his home with his daughter Kayleigh Boyle after hearing shouts and her car being vandalised.

Brian died after being repeatedly struck with a knife and a hammer.

Kayleigh recalled: "He saved my life. If he had not jumped in front of me, it would have been me who would have been stabbed."

Jurors heard how the Boyle family had no idea why the killing happened.

McCann and Moncrieff were convicted of murder following a three-week trial at the High Court in Glasgow.

Moncrieff – who delivered the fatal blow - will serve a minimum 20 years behind bars and McCann 18 years.

The judge said: "Why Brian Boyle died is beyond me. Perhaps the only explanation was that you were openly engaging in the mindless violence you are used to."

He paid tribute to Kayleigh stating she showed "considerable courage" facing the thugs from the witness box.

The judge added: "She had to deal with the horror of seeing her father die in her arms before her."

The pair showed no remorse as they were lead to the cells.

Moncrieff – nicknamed Snowball – appeared to taunt Brian's emotional family in court.

22-year-old Domenica Smith had also faced the murder charge, but jurors returned a not proven verdict.

The trial heard how the thugs and Smith had stormed up to another property near the Boyle home shortly before the killing.

They were armed and appeared to looking for a man called "Connor".

It is believed he may have been an ex-boyfriend of Smith.

They then eventually ended up outside the Boyles in the city's Reidvale Street.

Kayleigh told how she heard noise outside her home.

She then spotted Smith hitting her car with a hammer as McCann and Moncrieff were nearby.

Brian and his daughter then ran downstairs – but Kayleigh said: "I did not get a chance to step onto the street when I was attacked."

She claimed an "angry" Smith came at her with the hammer, which incidentally Brian was hit with.

The daughter said her dad was then struck with a lock-back knife as if the attacker "was not going to stop".

The trio fled as Brian begged his daughter to get an ambulance.

Kayleigh then recalled: "He then hit the deck. He tried to grab onto a fence, but he did not have the energy. He just collapsed.

"I tried to stop the bleeding and tried to save him. No one was able to save him."

She said Brian had "come to defend his daughter like any father would" that day.

Kayleigh said: "He was an excellent dad and would do anything to defend me."

The court heard Brian died having been stabbed in the heart.

Moncrieff gave evidence during the trial – and claimed he had not meant to kill Brian.

McCann and Moncrieff were also convicted of threatening and abusive behaviour.

Smith was also found guilty of two charges of that crime as well as assaulting Kayleigh.

Smith who had been on remand was bailed pending her sentencing at a later date.

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