Teenager pleads guilty to murdering woman in street

A teenager has pleaded guilty to murdering a woman by repeatedly stabbing her in broad daylight on an Edinburgh street.

The 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, killed Danielle Davidson in Constitution Street in Leith on 18 May 2023.

The masked teenager made threats to the 33-year-old victim before repeatedly stabbing her on the head and body with a knife and fleeing to a nearby supermarket to change his clothes.

He had lodged a special defence of self-defence at the High Court in Glasgow but pled guilty after CCTV footage of the murder was played to the jury at the beginning of the trial.

Iain McSporran KC, defending, told the trial that after speaking to the boy "he acknowledges there was no prospect of self-defence which could be put forward".

The footage showed the boy and another person - both dressed in black - on electric scooters on Duke Street around 19:45 when they encountered Ms Davidson and a man named Conlan Carr walking in the other direction.

An altercation then ensued that also involved the boy's father, who had been drinking in a nearby pub with another man, Steven Warns.

Footage showed the boy’s father, Mr Warns, Mr Carr - who was holding a knife - and Ms Davidson having a discussion.

The boy then appeared and also produced a knife, while his electric scooter was seen to be pulled from the ground and dropped by Mr Carr and Ms Davidson.

He then approached Ms Davidson, stabbed her several times and punched her.

She was rushed to hospital with serious injuries but later died.

The boy was captured on camera going into the women's toilets in a supermarket before remerging, having changed his clothes.

A full narrative of the facts will be heard on Monday and Judge Lord Arthurson remanded the boy in custody meantime.