A grieving widow has branded as "a coward" the man who murdered her husband and stabbed her teenage son.
Gary Finlay, 46, is starting a life sentence for murder after he admitted stabbing to death family man Graham McKenna and the attempted murder of his son Michael.
Ex-army corporal Graham, 45, was stabbed to death as he stood at a bus stop near his home in Merseyside.
His 14-year-old son Michael was also stabbed in the attack in January but survived and has made a full recovery.
Gary Finlay, 46, of Alexandra Road, Birkenhead, pleaded guilty to the murder and attempted murder in January when he appeared at Liverpool Crown Court.
Judge Henry Globe QC set a minimum "tarrif" of 25 years on the life sentence meaning the killer will not be eligible for parole until 2034 when he will be aged 70.
Everton fan Mr McKenna, was repeatedly stabbed in a frenzied attack carried out in Upton Road, Claughton, Wirral.
He died in Arrowe Park Hospital and police had been hunting Gary Finlay in connection with the attack but he eluded capture for weeks, living rough in the Liverpool area.
Gordon Cole QC, prosecuting, said Finlay became "bitter and vengeful" following the break-down of his marriage to Mr McKenna's sister-in-law Deborah.
Mr McKenna and his wife, Gillian, 40, had offered to give evidence supporting Gillian's sister, Deborah, in the divorce proceedings which resulted in Gary Finlay losing access to their two children.
Their testimony was never called but Finlay, Mr Cole said, "hated Gary and Gillian for being prepared to give evidence".
The court heard that on 10 January, Finlay stopped his car and stabbed the pair, who were waiting for a bus to go to Goodison Park to watch Everton play Hull City in the Premier League.
Finlay knocked him to the ground, then straddled his body and stabbed him 18 times with a 7in kitchen knife.
As that attack came to an end, Mr McKenna tried to crawl to safety but he got as far as the garden path of a nearby house before Finlay again stabbed him.
Finlay then walked around the corner and stabbed Michael - who was waiting in fear for his father - in the chest, arms, abdomen and back.
His life was saved thanks to the actions of passer-by Jason Scott who charged at Finlay with clenched fists.
Det Insp Andy O'Connor from Merseyside Police said: "These were particularly vicious attacks... resulting in the death of a man who had his whole life ahead of him.
"The intervention by members of the public during this attack undoubtedly saved Michael's life."
Andrew Menary QC, defending, said the attack was the result of an "explosive loss of temper and control" by Finlay.
Graham had served as a regular soldier for 23 years until 2005 when he joined the Territorial Army in Birkenhead.
His widow Gillian McKenna said outside the court: "Graham was a wonderful husband, father, son, brother and friend.
"He served 22-years-in the armed forces in various places and different combat conditions. He loved the army and continued to play an active role in the forces through the Territorial Army.
"Since his death our lives have been turned upside down. His death has totally devastated all of his family and friends.
"Graham and Michael received similar injuries during the deliberate and brutal attack by Finlay. Graham died from his injuries and Michael almost did. I will never ever forgive him for what he has done.
"Finlay killed a defenceless man and attacked an innocent 14-year-old boy in the street. Only a coward would and could do that.
"He will never know what love is as a man who is capable of killing a loving father and destroying a young boy's life cannot know the meaning of the word. He also destroyed my sister's life through physical and mental abuse whilst they were married.
"I have lost my soulmate, the love of my life, the father of my children and nothing will ever bring him back. It is better to have loved him than to never loved at all.
"My daughter Amy, reminds me that her dad will live on through her and brother Michael and future generations and so will never be forgotten.
"I would like to thank the two men who came to Graham and Michael's aid after the attack. I don't know who they are but I would like to meet them as I am incredibly grateful for what they did. I would also like to thank the residents of Speedwell Road, the paramedics who attended, the hospital staff who cared for Graham and who saved my son, and the police.
"Our friends, family, work mates, Michael's school and the local community have all been incredibly supportive too.
"Our memories of Graham continue to give us the strength to deal with his loss and to help come to terms with what has happened.
"The sentencing of Gary Finlay today sees justice done in the eyes of the law, but it will never bring Graham back to us, his murder is something that we will never fully recover from and there will never be a sentence long enough for that brutal, cowardly man."
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