Edinburgh teen stabbed local mum to death before uttering eleven chilling words

The teenager 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 - who died from her injuries

A teenage boy who stabbed a mum to death during a row over an e-scooter row has been detained for a minimum 18 years - after telling his family "I have done the crime, so I will do the time".

The then 16-year-old used a Rambo-style knife to stab Danielle Davidson, 33, on Constitution Street in Edinburgh's Leith on May 18 2023. He was sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow on Tuesday for what was described by the judge as an "appalling and cowardly" attack on the innocent mum-of-one.

On Tuesday the court heard how the killer had been charged with possession of a knife aged just 11. The Home Office also accepted he was "the victim of modern slavery within the UK", having been involved in drug dealing and other crimes from a young age.

The attacker, now aged 17, had been accused of stealing an e-scooter, which a man tried to take from him before the teenager turned his knife on Ms Davidson. The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had called Miss Davidson prior to the killing.

Prosecutor John McElroy KC said Ms Davidson had arranged to meet the boy with her friend Conlan Carr. He told the court: "It is understood there was a recent history of antagonism between Carr and the accused."

The attacker and an associate arrived on scooters, and the teenager's father was also present after receiving a call from his son. The dad initially got into an argument with Carr, who was said to be armed. The killer then took "a large knife" from the waistband of his trousers and waved it at Carr.

Mr McElroy said: "During the course of this argument, Carr seemed to be attempting to take the accused's scooter." His dad tried calm matters, but the teenager then decided to turn the knife on Miss Davidson before fleeing the scene in a taxi. Mr McElroy added: "She was heard to shout 'I have been stabbed' before collapsing on the tram track."

The advocate depute said: "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 had had was a big 'Rambo' knife. He said that he just started stabbing and that it was a 'stab or be stabbed' situation."

Miss Davidson was rushed to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary with five "sharp force injuries", including four stab wounds - one which went into her chest and punctured a lung. 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 Miss Davidson and not the other individual with her said to have been armed. The solicitor advocate: "That is a question he cannot answer."

Lord Arthurson on Tuesday ordered the teenager 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 escaoe 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."