Scots dad murdered in 'despicable' attack was planning to propose to girlfriend
A Scots dad who was murdered in a completely unprovoked attack was planning to propose to his girlfriend at the time of his death.
Sean McKay, 23, was walking home from work when he was stabbed to death in Dalry, Ayrshire, on October 10, 2021.
Gavin McVey was found guilty of murder following a trial at the High Court in Paisley and sentenced to a minimum of 21 years in prison.
Police Scotland said McVey, 42, stabbed the young dad for "absolutely no reason other than his own wickedness".
The knife caused damage to his liver, diaphragm and heart. Despite members of the public rushing to help, he was found dead at the scene.
Sean's family have since taken part in a new Channel 5 documentary on the case called Murdered At First Sight.
His girlfriend Chloe McCormick told the programme she found out after his death that he was planning to ask her to marry him.
The couple had a son together, Oscar, who was just one-year-old at the time of labourer Sean's death.
Chloe, 25, said: "I just miss his laugh, hearing his voice. He made everyone laugh all the time.
"I have never moved on from it. Even now four years later I still think that there is nobody as good as him.
"After Sean died I found out he was going to ask me to marry him. He had spoken about it with his closest friends.
"I would have said 'Yes' definitely."
Chloe also said the prison sentence given to McVey should have been longer.
She added: "He was given 21 years but I've lost my partner, Oscar has lost his dad. It just wasn't enough."
Relatives of Sean told how McVey has never explained his actions and treated them with contempt when they came face-to-face with him in court.
The killer, who denied his guilt, shouted and swore and made an offensive hand gesture to the family as he was leaving the courtroom to begin his sentence.
Sean's sister Simone said: "Gavin showed us all the middle finger as he went back downstairs after being found guilty.
"It made us feel horrible but it showed his character."
His mum Debbie said: "Gavin McVey didn't give any reason. There was no reason why he could have killed him.
"He didn't even speak in court. I thought we would maybe get answers why (it happened). When the jury came back and said 'Guilty' it was brilliant. We all cheered."
As the jury read out their unanimous verdict, dozens of Sean's family, friends and loved ones clapped, cheered and said 'thank you' to the jury.
McVey denied his guilt throughout the trial and blamed another person who he was with for Sean's death.
However the court heard how he sent a text to a pal stating: "I killed some c**t" following the incident.
He had already attempted to cover his tracks by hiding the blooded knife in his mother's garden and disposing of his jacket before buying new clothes at a shop in Ayr.
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Sentencing McVey, judge Lord Mulholland said: "You've been convicted of murder of Sean McKay - a young man with his whole life ahead of him.
"He was on his way home from work when he encountered you under the influence of alcohol with a knife.
"You've also delivered a life sentence of grief to his partner, son, mother, father, sister and other family and friends.
"This was a senseless murder. What you did was despicable and cowardly."
Murdered At First Sight will be shown on Channel 5 on Monday at 10pm.
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