Police ScotlandA teenager who murdered a woman after an apparent row over an e-scooter has been detained for a minimum of 18 years.
The then 16-year-old brutally stabbed to death Danielle Davidson, 33, with a Rambo-style knife – before later stating to his aunt and uncle: “I have done the crime, so I will do time”.
The now 17-year-old – who cannot be identified due to his age – was sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow for what a judge described as an “appalling and cowardly” attack on the innocent mum-of-one.
The teenager had previously pleaded guilty to murdering Ms Davidson on Constitution Street in Edinburgh’s Leith on May 18, 2023.
It emerged at sentencing that the teenager had previously been charged with possession of a knife when he was 11 years old.
The Home Office had also since accepted that he was later “the victim of modern slavery within the UK” involved in drug dealing and other crimes from a young age.
The court heard how the teenager had faced a number of charges through the years – including fire-raising, drugs, serious assault and vandalism.
These had all been referred to the Children’s Reporter to be dealt with.
He had been made subject of a compulsory supervision order eight days before the killing.
Lord Arthurson ordered he be detained without limit of time.
The judge said: “This was an appalling and cowardly attack on a vulnerable and defenceless young mother in a public street in broad daylight in full public view of witnesses.
“You, having inflicted devastating wounds on the victim, sought to escape, leaving her dying on the roadway.
“She was tragically in the wrong place at the wrong time – in close proximity to you while you were intoxicated by drugs and armed with a large, lethal-bladed weapon.”
‘Senseless attack’
A hearing in November heard the details behind the attack on Ms Davidson, who leaves behind a child.
The teenager had initially gone to trial before admitting his guilt following footage of the crime being played in court.
He had called Ms Davidson prior to the killing. She then left with a friend called Conlan Carr to meet the boy.
Prosecutor John McElroy KC: “It is understood there was a recent history of antagonism between Carr and the accused.”
The young killer and an associate arrived at the scene on scooters while the boy’s father was also there after getting a call from his son.
The dad initially got into an argument with Carr, who was said to be armed before the teenager took “a large knife” from the waistband of his trousers and brandished it at Carr.
Mr McElroy: “During the course of this argument, Carr seemed to be attempting to take the accused’s scooter.”
The teenager’s dad tried unsuccessfully to calm matters before his son decided to turn the knife on Ms Davidson.
Mr McElroy: “She was heard to shout ‘I have been stabbed’ before collapsing on the tram track.”
The row about the scooter briefly continued before the young assailant fled to a nearby Tesco supermarket.
He went into the closed women’s toilet and changed his clothes. The boy then got a taxi to elsewhere in Edinburgh.
It was there he telephoned his aunt and uncle to come collect him.
The aunt had alerted police that they were doing this.
The advocate depute: “During this time in their company, the accused made admissions to them such as: ‘I have done the crime, so I will do the time’.
“He told his relatives that people had pulled knives on him so he had to defend himself.
“He explained to his uncle that the weapon was a big ‘Rambo’ knife.
“He said that he just started stabbing and that it was a ‘stab or be stabbed’ situation.”
The court heard how Ms Davidson had been rushed to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary with five “sharp force injuries” including four stab wounds.
The fatal blow was to the back, which had gone into her chest and punctured a lung.
Ms Davidson tragically did not recover.
She had her own home in the capital, but often lived with her father. She is also survived by one child.
Iain McSporran KC, defending, said the mum had “lost her life in an utterly senseless attack”.
He added: “She was an entirely innocent victim in this dreadful crime.”
Mr McSporran stated the boy had been asked why he turned on Ms Davidson and not the other individual with her said to have been armed.
The solicitor advocate: “That is a question he cannot answer.”
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