Three people have been jailed for life after luring a vulnerable man to a flat where he was repeatedly stabbed and slashed.

Joseph McGready, 30, was heard begging his killers to stop before he was abandoned in a communal close in Braid Square, Maryhill, on 29 September 2023.

He later died in hospital from his injuries.

Amanda Welsh, 49, Conor Thomas, 29, and Laura McHugh, 32, were convicted of the murder at the High Court in Glasgow last month.

Police Scotland described the killers’ actions as “cowardly and callous”.

Sentencing, Lord Matthews said the “untimely and needless loss” of Mr McGready had caused “incalculable” grief to those close to him.

The judge said a comment between the women in a phone call, shortly before the attack, indicated they had set a “trap” for the victim.

The court heard Mr McGready had been accused of stealing from McHugh.

Lord Matthews added: “The attack happened within a few minutes.

“Mr McGready had the presence of mind to call 999 while he was being attacked.

“He was struggling for his life.

“Afterwards, he was dragged out into the landing and left to die.

“None of you thought to contact the emergency services – even anonymously – to alert them to Mr McGready.”

Lord Matthews told Thomas he must serve a minimum of 18 years before he could be considered for parole.

Welsh was sentenced to 17-and-a-half years and McHugh to 17 years.

The court heard Mr McGready had ended up in the company of his killers before going to McHugh’s flat.

Once inside he was accused of theft and set upon before being dumped in the communal close.

Mr McGready had called for help as he was being struck but was left bleeding as his killers fled.

Welsh and McHugh later spent the night in a hotel.

Mr McGready was taken to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow but died from his injuries on 2 October, three days after the attack.

McHugh later told detectives there had been a “free for all” at her flat, but denied being responsible.

She claimed Welsh initially slashed Mr McGready before Thomas struck him “five or six times”.

McHugh told the officers: “I shouted on Conor and he stopped. It was only a few seconds and it was over.”

She recalled “a lot of blood” and assumed the victim had a number of injuries.

McHugh claimed she had been “terrified” but admitted helping lift Mr McGready from the flat and “putting him in the landing”.

The victim was said to have pleaded: “Please stop, please stop.”

In her evidence, Welsh admitted slashing Mr McGready, but denied any further attack.

She claimed the man had made a comment about her boyfriend.

After she had dropped the blade, Welsh insisted she had then seen McHugh with a knife.

Following the verdicts last month, prosecutor Kath Harper KC revealed all three had criminal records.

This included both Welsh and Thomas having convictions for offensive weapons.

Lawyers for the killers said each had their own personal issues at the time of the crime.

Det Insp Sandy MacKinnon said: “Joseph McGready’s family and friends have been left devastated and our thoughts remain with them at this difficult time.

“I hope this sentence brings at least a degree of closure for them.

“Welsh, Thomas and McHugh now face the consequences of their cowardly and callous actions.”