Killer jailed for street stabbing

Steven Lennon died after being stabbed twice

A 17-year-old who stabbed another Edinburgh teenager through the heart has been jailed for seven years.

Judge Lady Dorrian told the High Court in Edinburgh that Steven Lennon, 17, would still be alive if Billy Brown had not been carrying a knife.

Originally charged with murder, Brown, also from Edinburgh, pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of culpable homicide.

The fatal attack took place in the Sighthill area last July after rival gangs met to try to reach a peace deal.

An earlier murder trial was halted when Brown admitted using his lock-knife during a struggle with Mr Lennon, an apprentice scaffolder, shortly after shaking hands with him.

What you have to live with is that none of this would have happened if you had not taken a knife and used it Judge Lady Dorrian

The judge told Brown: "The offence of culpable homicide is a serious one and in this case was compounded by the fact that you went looking for the deceased, armed with a lethal weapon and clearly with violence not far from your mind."

Lady Dorrian said she took account of the provocation offered by Mr Lennon, of Murrayburn Gardens, when he struck Brown with a metal pole.

"Nevertheless, your reaction was completely disproportionate and what you have to live with is that none of this would have happened if you had not taken a knife and used it," she added.

Local rivalry

The judge also made an order keeping Brown, of Calder Gardens, under strict supervision for three years after his release.

During the earlier trial, advocate depute Alex Prentice, prosecuting, said: "It appears that over a period of time there has been some rivalry between people living in the Sighthill area and people living in the Broomhouse area."

Before Brown's plea, the trial heard that on the evening of 29 July groups of youths from the two neighbouring areas of Edinburgh chatted in the streets in an attempt to put aside their differences.

The court was told that Brown and his victim had even shaken hands.

But Brown returned to the scene in Sighthill Green later that night, demanded a "square go" with Mr Lennon then stabbed him in the stomach.

Mr Lennon retaliated with a metal pole and was stabbed again, through the heart.

He died in hospital a few hours later.