Swansea Crown Court heard yesterday how the killer of Lance Corporal Kinnon Ragni was determined "to get a squaddie" after he had been thrown out of Minnie's night club on the night of Kinnon's murder, November 22nd 2006.

Elwen Evans QC, prosecuting, told the court Marc Campbell, 35, of Goshawk Road in Haverfordwest, had been high on valium and alcohol and had pestered soldiers in Minnie's night club for drugs.

Mr Ragni, serving with 14th Signal Regiment based at Cawdor barracks, Haverfordwest, was in the club enjoying farewell drinks with fellow soldiers having volunteered for a tour of duty in Afghanistan.

The court heard how Campbell was already so "out of it" some people were filming him on their mobile telephones.

Miss Evans said that some soldiers had complained about Campbell's behaviour and he was thrown out.

The 35-year-old then went to his flat where he dressed in camouflage clothing and collected a pair of gloves and a kitchen knife with a ten inch blade.

On the way back Glasgow-born Campbell, who was working at an LNG plant in Milford Haven, came across Edward George Davies, 31, of Heol Penlan, Stop and Call in Fishguard. The two men continued together.

"Campbell was seeking revenge," said Miss Evans.

Outside Minnie's Campbell made up a story about having left his coat behind and tried to get back inside, but door staff stopped him.

When Mr Ragni- who had not been involved in the earlier incident - appeared, Campbell "immediately and without warning" stabbed him six times to the chest and stomach. One wound to the heart caused "catastrophic" bleeding.

Police rushed Mr Ragni to hospital but he was already dead.

As Campbell fled he was advised by Davies how to get out of the town centre without being filmed by CCTV cameras. The murder itself had already been caught on camera.

Campbell ran alongside the river, but he was chased by Alex Herbert, Alex Ward and Marco Scharf.

All three men were commended by the judge, Mr Justice Roderick Evans, for their "outstanding bravery." He awarded them £500 each as tokens of the public's gratitude.

Kinnon's mother praised the three men and thanked them for their public spirited response as well as their courage.

Yesterday Cambell was sentenced to life, with a minimum sentence of 18 years, by Mr Justice Evans.

Davies was sentenced to 15 months in prison for assisting an offender. Both men had pleaded guilty earlier hearings.

It was revealed yesterday that both men were on licence from prison at the time of the stabbing.

Technically, at least, Davies should have still been in prison on November 22.

He had been released a week before - while still less than half-way through a nine month sentence. Campbell was on licence from a five-year sentence imposed for robbing a pharmacy.