'Evil monster' who killed friend in 'ferocious' ketamine-fuelled knife attack caged for life

dailyrecord.co.uk:

'An 'evil monster' who killed his friend in a "ferocious" ketamine fuelled knife attack is beginning a life sentence.James Preston, 21, brutally murdered Joe Holland after stabbing him four times.

He left the 25-year-old with a further seven "incised wounds" after the attack at his home in Fincham on June 8.The victim's body was discovered in a locked downstairs bathroom next to a handwritten note left by Preston which read: "It was me or him".Preston said he acted in self-defence, however his account was rejected by a jury at Liverpool Crown Court last week.

He was later found guilty of murder by unanimous decision, reports Liverpool Echo. The jury had heard the night began in good spirts with Preston and Mr Holland attending a meal with a large group of friends at Jumbo Chinese Restaurant in Dovecot, followed by drinks in the Deysbrook pub in West Derby.

CCTV footage from both venues showed both men, and others in the group, openly snorting ketamine.Later, Preston, Mr Holland and a mutual friend called Sean Ruud took a taxi back to Preston's mum's house on Huyton House Road, where they continuing drinking and inhaling balloons filled with nitrous oxide, known as laughing gas.