A 44-year-old man who denied shooting a childhood friend at point blank range in an unprovoked attack has been jailed.
Garland Greene, also known as James Ferguson, shot Paul Cairns in the bedroom of a house in Ardrossan, Ayrshire, on May 24 2020.
The court heard that Greene had entered the house wearing overalls and a face mask. He asked a decorator working in the house where Mr Cairns was before proceeding upstairs to the bedroom.
Greene shot him with a sawn-off shotgun in front of his fiancée, Victoria Woods.
Ms Woods, who was Greene’s cousin and died prior to the trial, had given pre-recorded evidence that was key to Greene’s conviction.
Greene was found guilty of murder and two firearms charges at the High Court in Glasgow on 25 October 2021 and was sentenced to life imprisonment with a punishment part of 22 years.
David Green, Procurator Fiscal for Homicide, said:
“Garland Greene carried out an extremely violent and calculated attack on Paul Cairns; entering his fiancée’s home and killing him in cold blood.
“Thanks to the diligent work of investigators and prosecutors the evidence against him was overwhelming.
“The sentence imposed upon Greene today is reflective of the brutal, pre-meditated nature of his crime.
“Our thoughts are with Mr Cairns’ loved ones at this difficult time.”