A knife killer who stabbed his victim almost 50 times to the head and neck in a brutal and frenzied attack will serve at least 15 years in jail.
John Paul Whitla stood in the dock of Craigavon Crown Court as Judge Patrick Lynch KC told the 44-year-old he had subjected Nathan Gibson to a frenzied attack and “gratuitous violence” on January 16 2020.
Having stabbed the 25-year-old on a towpath near Lake Road in Craigavon Whitla, covered in his victim’s blood went to the home of Mr Gibson” where the victim’s partner helped clean blood off her boyfriend’s killer.
Last September Whitla, of no fixed abode and also known as eyeball Paul, was handed a life sentence.
He also admitted false imprisonment and common assault of his victim’s girlfriend.
After Mr Gibson was reported as missing, a police helicopter “detected a heat source” coming from where his body was ultimately found and when police arrived, they saw that he had suffered “numerous stab wounds”.
Judge Lynch recounted how a post mortem examination ascertained that “death was due too stab wounds of the head and neck”.
In the aftermath, Whitla went to Mr Gibson’s home and claiming he had been hurt, convinced his victim’s girlfriend to help clean the blood off.
She noticed however that Whitla did not have any wounds and “he calmly said that he had killed Nathan”, said the judge.
Despite claims of not intending to harm her Whitla stopped her from leaving the property, ordering to her to stay “until Nathan came back”.
At one stage, Whitla grabbed his terrified victim by the throat but she managed to break free and ran up the stairs into her bedroom, using her bed like a trampoline to jump out the first floor window and run to a neighbour’s house to summon help.
Arrested and interview Whitla denied responsibility for the killing, initially claiming instead that he and Nathan had gone to buy drugs when they were attacked.
During later interviews when DNA evidence was put to Whitla, he conceded that he “probably did” stab Mr Gibson.
The judge imposed a 15 year minimum tariff and explained that “for the avoidance of doubt” the tariff is the absolute minimum period he will spend in jail.
Speaking after the case, Detective Inspector Hazel Miller said: “This was an absolutely terrifying and traumatic ordeal for Nathan’s fiancée, who was threatened, and left to feel unsafe in her own home. She, and Nathan’s family, have suffered an unimaginable and heart-breaking loss.
Mr Gibson’s fiancée said their little boy was left without his father.
“Our only form of peace and justice to Nathan comes through continuously honouring his spirit and cherishing our memories together. Ensuring that his legacy of kindness and compassion and his heart of absolute gold is kept alive through us and that our love shines brighter than the darkness that has tainted our lives,” she said.
Mr Gibson’s sister Shantelle said the family had also been given a sentence.
“For us, it’s a lifetime of heartache and pain. No number of years will ever be enough to justify taking a life, or bring Nathan back to us,” she said.
“Nathan was a kind, caring, loveable soul who always put others before himself. He was funny, witty and an all-round great person. Everyone who knew him loved him; he never held any animosity or bad feelings towards anyone. By cruel contrast, his killer has brought heart-wrenching pain, not only to the family, but to Nathan’s friends and the whole community. Nathan’s death came as a shock to us all.”