FRIENDS and relatives of a man knifed to death when he got caught up in an argument are planning a barbecue this weekend to mark what would have been his 23rd birthday.

FRIENDS and relatives of a man knifed to death when he got caught up in an argument are planning a barbecue this weekend to mark what would have been his 23rd birthday.

Devastated dad Lawrence McCall vowed the party would go ahead after seeing his son's murderer jailed for life yesterday.

He described his son - also Lawrence - as "a party animal" who lived for weekend raves and said he had never been in trouble in his life.

Some 500 friends packed into his funeral and covered a wall at his home with memorial cards.

Lawrence Jnr's birthday barbecue in Beith, Ayrshire, had become a tradition, said his dad.

Mr McCall, 41, recalling the night of his son's death on December 6, added: "My life ended. Lawrence was my best pal as well as my son."

Jailing Alan Gillespie, 23, Judge Lord Kinclaven described the death as a tragedy and ordered Gillespie to serve at least 12 years before he can apply for parole.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard how there had been a history of trouble at a house in Cedar Avenue, Beith.

Homeless Gillespie, who admitted murder, had moved into the property just before the fatal night, when he and a friend were confronted by a group looking for a previous tenant.

Mr McCall (junior), who was carrying a bottle, turned suddenly and Gillespie reacted by stabbing him.

His dad said: "Lawrence had a bottle but he was going there for a drink not a fight."

Lawrence suffered three wounds and bled to death.

The court heard that as he lay dying he was kicked by another man.

That attacker, Derek Monaghan, 26, of Hamilton Crescent, Stevenston, Ayrshire, was jailed for 15 months. He had originally faced a murder charge but his guilty plea to assaulting Lawrence was accepted.