Three people killed Robert Shankland after inviting him to party Three people who killed a man after inviting him to a party have been sentenced to life. Kevin McDonagh, 23, Paris Green, 22, and Dean Smith, 20, attacked Robert Shankland in Green's flat in Brodie Court, Glenrothes on Wednesday March 27 this year. At the High Court in Glasgow on Friday, the trio were sentenced to a minimum of 18 years each by Judge John Morris QC. He told them: "This was a particularly gruesome murder which effectively involved the torture of your victim over many hours. It beggars belief that you could act towards another human being in this way. Your conduct was utterly depraved. You left Mr Shankland, even in death, without any dignity whatsoever. Green, who was born Peter Laing, will serve the life sentence in Cornton Vale prison for women. The court was told Green is to receive what was described as "gender realignment surgery" in England. Mr Shankland, 46, had been friends with Green and had gone to the flat with his three attackers. A jury heard how the reason for the killing could have been a row over a bag of chips. He was tied up with torn bedding, battered, kicked and attacked with a rolling pin. A ligature was also tied around his neck and a plastic bag pulled over his head. Mr Shankland, who suffered from a heart disease, was killed either by suffocation or blunt force injuries. The killers then ate ham sandwiches which they paid for by selling their victim's mobile phone. Green's friend Maggie Shields told the trial she visited the flat and learned about the death, before recalling how the trio boasted about the beating. The 31 year-old told the court: "Dean jumped up quite excitedly and said: 'I will show you the body'. I still did not think that they had killed him. Ms Shields said she fled the flat terrified and contacted the police. McDonagh later told officers who arrested him: "He tried to fight back. After that it was just disgusting. The jury heard how McDonagh sent his mum a "farewell" text that night. He also posted messages on Facebook to say he had "f***** up his life" and had "gone too far." Green's lawyer Ian Bryce said she had a "troubled background" affected by issues with "gender identity." Mr Bryce added: "This conviction might set back any gender realignment surgery as that has to be carried out in England." The court was told co-accused Smith was formerly in the armed forces and had served in Afghanistan. DC Inspector David McLaren, who led the investigation, welcomed the sentencing. He said: "Robert Shankland was invited to a house which he thought was a safe place for him amongst people he had regarded as friends. Even after his death McDonagh, Green and Smith made efforts to try and distance themselves from their wicked actions. I hope today's sentencing will allow Robert's family to begin to move on from this terrible episode and the fact that the individuals responsible for his death, who will spend a considerable period of time in prison, offers them some comfort. I would also like to thank the witnesses who came forward in this case, in particular the person who initially alerted the police, as without their swift actions this may have resulted in the family of Robert Shankland being left without answers to what had happened.