Sam Cook’s killer has been jailed for life after being found guilty of his murder.
Carl Madigan stabbed the Crosby resident in the basement of Empire Bar as he celebrated his 21st birthday in the popular nightspot in October last year.
Madigan will serve a minimum term of 28 years for carrying out the fatal act, which CCTV footage later showed him reenacting and even mimicking his victim.
Detective Chief Inspector Mark Tivendale said: “Madigan chose to carry a knife into Liverpool City Centre and did so with the full intention of using it.
“Following a minor argument, and while Sam was being attacked by others, he struck a singular, cowardly forcible and violent blow to Sam’s chest.
“Sam didn’t stand a chance and despite the very best efforts of the emergency services, sadly died.
“It is clear from the evidence heard in court that Madigan is dangerous individual, embroiled in a culture of violence that would have been completely alien to Sam and he will now spend a significant period of time in prison for the senseless murder.
“Sam had only just turned 21, was celebrating his birthday and had his whole life ahead of him.
“We know there are no words which can bring Sam back, nor repair the devastation which this caused to Sam’s family, his friends and all who knew him.
“Today’s sentence does however bring this part of the process to an end, and hopefully aids Sam’s family and friends recovery in some way.”
The stabbing took place after a row broke out when Magidan’s friend Lewis Langfield, who admitted affray, bumped into Mr Cook’s girlfriend Charlotte Owen.
Liverpool Magistrates’ Court heard that Madigan had taken a vegetable knife from an apartment he was staying at and hid it in his sock.
Speaking outside court, Mr Cook’s family paid tribute to him and said that he had been ‘brutally taken from us in the most horrendous circumstances’.
“Sam was kind, caring, well-mannered and funny,” they said in a statement.
“He also had the most infectious smile which we will never see again, only in our hearts and in our memories, which we hold dear.
“Sam was a young, handsome man who had everything to live for, he had such a bright future ahead of him.
“Instead, we have been denied the chance to see him develop through different stages of his life, all snatched away in a few seconds which has changed our lives forever.
“We have been handed a life sentence, which we will live and breathe for the rest of our lives.
“Sam’s memory will be held close and dear by all his family, girlfriend, friends and all who had the privilege to meet him.”