Gunman admits shooting ex-boxer during karaoke

Police officers comb the scene outside Jock's Lodge after the shooting

James Carlin, 24, was shot in the leg before being pistol-whipped by 27-year-old Dean Scott during the attack in the busy bar.

Scott and his co-accused, David Coutts, 21, who stabbed the victim, were both accused of attempted murder following the attack on March 7.

But yesterday, both men pleaded guilty to reduced charges of assault to severe injury at the High Court in Livingston.

Advocate Depute Peter Ferguson said Mr Carlin had been drinking with friends in the Jock's Lodge all day, at first watching football then the karaoke in the evening.

At around 5pm he went to the Limelight Bar several doors away and asked a man called 'Rocky' if he had seen Coutts, saying that people were going to "hack him".

The court heard that 'Rocky' immediately called Coutts to warn him. Coutts reacted by passing his mobile phone to Scott, who called Mr Carlin's partner.

Scott left the woman a message saying: "If he wants a square go tell him to come doon. Phone this phone right now and we'll meet right now.

"He can bring his mates, he can bring his dad . . . he can bring the whole lot of them. I'll be here. Every single one of them can die."

Mr Ferguson said that Coutts was later heard by a witness in the pub "shouting and being very aggressive" on his mobile.

He also promised another customer: "You'll see my name in the paper tomorrow."

CCTV footage showed a van dropping the two accused off at the Jock's Lodge and both men entering the bar.

Mr Ferguson said: "They approached the complainer, who was then seated in company. The complainer exchanged words with Scott, who extended his right hand outwards and downwards.

"He then discharged a small handgun, which has been described to police as being a 9mm pistol.

"The complainer got up and punched Scott and a fight ensued. Other customers tried to separate them."

As the fight continued, Mr Ferguson said Coutts stabbed the victim on the left buttock with a double-edged blade.

Scott then left the pub and ran off towards Meadowbank with Scott following close behind. CCTV footage later captured both accused on a bus leaving the area.

Scott, of Restalrig Road, pleaded guilty to discharging a loaded firearm and shooting Mr Carlin in the leg to danger of his life. He also admitted repeatedly striking his victim on the head with the gun to his permanent disfigurement.

Coutts, of Quarry Cottages, Newcraighall, admitted stabbing Mr Carlin to his severe injury and breaching bail by committing the offence.Earlier on the day of the offence, Scott and Coutts were seen drinking in a bar in Leith, and the pair later visited Scott's neighbour, Stephanie Whitehead, at her flat in Restalrig. At the flat, Scott took a handgun out of his trouser pocket and showed it to her.

After the attack, Mr Carlin told medics he thought he had been shot in the face with an airgun near his left eye.

But medical examination showed that the disc-shaped injuries had been caused by him being hit with the barrel of the gun.

The advocate depute added that the type of small 9mm pistol used had a tendency to jam and this appeared to have been what happened after Scott discharged it inside the pub.

Mr Carlin had cuts and bruises on his head, a stab wound in his left buttock and a gunshot entry wound on the front of his left thigh, with a larger exit wound behind his knee.

Lord Matthews deferred sentence for background reports.