Murder accused had bloody knife, trial told

Published on Thursday 2 October 2008 01:29

A 14-YEAR-OLD boy was found with a bloodstained knife just minutes after he allegedly stabbed a teenager to death, a court was told yesterday.

The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, denies murdering Christopher Johnston and attempting to murder Keni Carmichael, both 17.

The offences are alleged to have been committed at a lane near to Pentland Drive, Bishopbriggs, on 26 January.

PC Andrew Logan, 23, told the High Court in Glasgow that officers stopped the teenager in Bishopbriggs as he matched the description of the person being sought in connection with the alleged stabbings.

PC Logan said the boy was asked if he had anything sharp and produced a knife. He added: "It was heavily bloodstained towards the tip of the blade."

PC Logan agreed with Kevin McCallum, prosecuting, when he asked: "Did he say the knife wasn't his and someone else had given it to him to carry?"

The court was told that as the boy, who has autism and ADHD, was being driven to the police station, a message was broadcast on the police radio saying that Mr Johnston was likely to die. PC Logan said he could hear the boy crying.

Detective Sergeant Jacqueline Ferry, 43, who interviewed the accused later, revealed that he only realised that Mr Johnston was dead during the police interview.

When asked by Mr McCallum: "Is it fair to say he accepted he struck Christopher Johnston on the leg, but he didn't mean it?" She replied: "That's correct."

When cross-examined by Neil Murray, QC, for the defence, she agreed that the boy's father had told her his son had difficulty with comprehension, sometimes difficulty understanding words or joining pieces of information together to make sense of them.

The trial before Lord Matthews continues.