Thug made threat to kill witnesses

A THUG threatened to murder a couple due to give evidence against him in court just hours before carrying out a violent assault on two random bystanders.

James Watson had been accused of pulling a knife on a group of people on New Year’s Day 2011.

But while he awaited trial he jumped on a moped and rode up and down shouting threats outside the home of Elizabeth and Robert Doonan in Restalrig Crescent on May 13 – despite being banned from the street.

He then joined friend Paul Davidson and an unknown woman in Restalrig Road in the early hours of May 14. They then launched an unprovoked attack on a couple. Just hours before those incidents, Watson and Davidson robbed Pond’s Mini Market in Lochend.

Davidson, 20, of Easter Drylaw Bank, pleaded guilty to three charges of assault and robbery. Watson, 23, of Pirniefield Place, admitted three charges of assault and robbery, one of carrying an offensive weapon, one of behaving in a threatening and abusive manner and one of breaching bail.

They were remanded in custody ahead of sentencing.