Man jailed for fatal street stabbing after firework battle

A teenager who stabbed a man to death after his home was attacked by an armed gang has been jailed for more than six years.

Jaxon Millar fatally wounded Robert McNally, 21, in Paisley in January last year.

McNally and two other men, who were all masked and armed with weapons, had gone to the killer's house that day amid a dispute.

But Millar, who was 19 at the time, threw fireworks at the group from an upstairs window in an effort to deter them from entering the property.

Millar left his home with a knife after his car was vandalised and fatally stabbed McNally in the back.

Millar, from Lochwinnoch, Renfrewshire, pleaded guilty to culpable homicide in May after he was initially charged with murder.

Sentencing, Lord Mullholland told him the court saw "too many cases" of knives being used with fatal results.

He added: "This was catastrophic and resulted in Mr McNally's death.

"You have inflicted a lifetime of grief upon his family and your actions have led to what you are facing today."

Millar was jailed for six years and nine months.

The High Court in Glasgow was previously told McNally and Millar were known to each others but were not friends.

It was stated McNally and his friends were annoyed that a woman Millar knew had given a police statement regarding domestic abuse allegations.

This led to someone being held in custody and the group wanted to speak to Millar about it.

McNally's friends went to Millar's home on 18 January last year where an argument broke out.

When McNally was informed, he was angry and drove back to Millar's house with two friends.

After banging on the door, Millar threw fireworks at them to keep them from entering the building.

Eventually they ran into the flat for 30 to 60 seconds before exiting again.

One of the men then started to smash Millar's car and they were joined by McNally.

The court heard Millar then ran out of his home and chased after McNally.

Prosecutor Greg Farrell said: "Millar caught up with him and stabbed him once on the back. Mr McNally fell to the ground.

"The other man, who was armed, ran back and a brief altercation took place among the three men.

"Mr McNally had got back to his feet.

"During the altercation, Millar was struck on the side of the face with a hatchet."

Millar ran back into his house as McNally and the other man walked off.

But McNally collapsed to the ground as the other man tried to give first aid and shouted for help.

The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

A post-mortem examination found that the blade had entered his left lung, which collapsed.

John Scullion KC, defending, told the hearing: "This was done under extreme provocation and he acted out of character."

He said Millar accepted full responsibility for his actions and had expressed regret.

After his death, McNally's girlfriend Angel White led tributes to him.

She said: "Robert darling. Our relationship wasn't perfect, you were the most hot headed, craziest boy I have ever met.

"But there wasn't anything you wouldn't do for the people you cared about and that's what I loved about you.

"You have been taken away from us all so sudden and far too early but I feel lucky to say I got to spend the last few months of your life by your side and I'm really going to miss you."