Youth admits guilt in fatal street stabbing of woman

A 17-year-old male, whose identity is legally protected, has admitted to the murder of a woman by repeatedly stabbing her in broad daylight on an Edinburgh street. The youth confessed to fatally stabbing Danielle Davidson in Constitution Street in Leith on 18 May 2023. The masked assailant issued threats to the 33-year-old victim before inflicting multiple stab wounds to her head and body with a knife. He then departed the scene, heading to a nearby supermarket to change his clothes. Initially, he had presented a special defence of self-defence at the High Court in Glasgow. However, he entered a guilty plea subsequent to the jury viewing CCTV recordings of the killing at the commencement of the trial. Iain McSporran KC, representing the defence, informed the court that following discussions with his client, “he acknowledges there was no prospect of self-defence which could be put forward”. The video evidence depicted the boy and an accompanying individual, both attired in black, riding electric scooters on Duke Street approximately at 19:45. They came across Ms Davidson and a man named Conlan Carr, who were proceeding in the opposite direction. A dispute subsequently developed, which also involved the boy’s father, who had been consuming alcohol at a nearby pub alongside another man, Steven Warns. The recording displayed the boy’s father, Mr Warns, Mr Carr (who was observed holding a knife), and Ms Davidson engaged in a discussion. Subsequently, the boy emerged and also brandished a knife. Simultaneously, his electric scooter was seen to be pulled from the ground and dropped by Mr Carr and Ms Davidson. He then moved towards Ms Davidson, inflicting multiple stab wounds and punching her. Ms Davidson was transported to a hospital due to severe injuries, where she later succumbed. Surveillance footage showed the boy entering the women’s restroom of a supermarket and reappearing with different attire. A comprehensive account of the events is scheduled to be presented on Monday, and Judge Lord Arthurson has ordered the boy to remain in custody until then. This report is copyrighted by BBC in 2024, with all rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding our approach to external linking is available.