Boy, 14, is guilty of stabbing his carer to death after she confiscated his Xbox

A 14-YEAR-OLD boy killed his carer by stabbing her ten times in a frenzied attack after he was grounded and banned from playing on his Xbox.

The teenager, who cannot be named, was originally accused of murdering Dawn McKenzie, 34, a former nursery worker, but prosecutors accepted a guilty plea to the lesser charge of culpable homicide on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

The High Court in Glasgow heard that in the days leading up to the killing, the boy’s Xbox, mobile phone and laptop taken away from him.

Psychiatrists who examined him said he was unable to control his behaviour at the time.

Mrs McKenzie was stabbed ten times to the head and body.

The fatal blow severed a major blood vessel and caused her to bleed to death.

The court heard the nature of some of her injuries revealed that she had fought for her life.

After the boy fled the scene, she managed to dial 999 and, as she lay dying, told police who had stabbed her.

Alex Prentice, QC, prosecuting, said: “It would appear that there was nothing remarkable about his behaviour in the lead up to this offence.”

Mr Prentice added: “The accused had a circle of friends and a keen interest in football and is described by his friends as quiet and likable.”

The boy, who was just 13 at the time, stabbed Mrs McKenzie in Hamilton on 24 June, 2011.

Her husband Bryan Mr McKenzie left the house about 7pm and went to his brother-in-law’s house to watch a film. He said there was no animosity between his wife and the boy then or he would not have left the flat.

He kissed his wife goodbye and ruffled the boy’s hair as he left and said, “See you later wee man”, the court heard.

About an hour later, Mrs McKenzie dialled 999 to say she had been stabbed.

In a recording of the call played in court, she could be heard shouting, “Mum” and “Help, help,” and “Mam, am I dying”.

She also managed to call her mother, Ray Byrne, and left a message.

Mr Prentice said: “On the voicemail recovered she is heard to say, ‘Mum’ and ‘Help’.”

When police arrived they were let into the block of flats by neighbour Catriona McLachlan who then went to help Mrs McKenzie as they waited for paramedics to arrive.

They found the front door ajar and saw Mrs McKenzie lying covered in blood on the living room floor.

A blood-stained knife with the tip broken off was lying on the couch.

One of the police officers asked her: “Who stabbed you.”

She said it was the boy.

The youngster was stopped by a police officer at 8:25pm in Wellhall Road, Hamilton, who saw him walking with a cloth wrapped round his hand.

The court heard the officer asked him: “What’s wrong with you wee man, you’re shaking?”

The boy admitted stabbing Mrs McKenzie.

He said he had used a knife which was still in the house.

When police charged him with murder, he said: “I only stabbed her once.”

Mrs McKenzie died in Hairmyres Hospital, East Kilbride, at 9:40pm. A post-mortem examination revealed that the wound to her stomach damaged the small bowel and cut through one of the main blood vessels and she died from massive loss of blood. She also suffered a number of defensive injuries to her arms and left hand.

Lord Pentland was handed victim impact statements from Mrs McKenzie’s husband and mother. “I shall read these documents carefully before I come to impose sentence,” he said.

Sentencing was deferred on the boy until August for background reports.