Youth tried to murder best friend

The court heard that Robinson could not explain the attack

A teenager who tried to murder his best friend by strangling him has been ordered to be detained for four years.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard how Bruce Robinson, and his victim Mark Reid, both aged 17, had been friends since the age of five.

Advocate depute Simon Collins said Robinson told his victim he was going to kill him and then kill himself.

Robinson earlier admitted attempting to murder Mr Reid on 24 November last year at Lauder Lodge, Dalkeith.

The court heard how the pair had spent days consoling each other and drinking heavily after splitting up with their girlfriends.

Mr Collins said that on the day of the attack Mr Reid had fallen asleep on a mattress and awoke to find a belt around his neck and Robinson on top of him, strangling him.

For whatever reason, he appears to have taken leave of his senses Andy Houston Defence solicitor advocate

He said Mr Reid was struggling to breathe and feared for his life, but managed to say something like: "Please don't kill me."

Mr Collins said Mr Reid was struggling with his attacker, trying to release the belt but was unsuccessful and lost consciousness.

Robinson later made a 999 call to emergency services and told them he had been strangling his friend and thought he was dying.

As Mr Reid was being taken out of the property to hospital, Robinson apologised to him.

The prosecutor said the extent of the trauma and bruising to the victim's neck and pinprick bleeding to his face suggested he was likely to have been close to death.

The court heard how Robinson had pinned his friend to the ground, butted him on the head and put a belt around his neck, repeatedly tightening it and compressing his throat.

'No flashpoint'

Mr Collins said Robinson, a first offender, was living in the lodge which provided bedsit type accommodation for homeless people.

He had abused alcohol at times since he was 13 and had suffered bouts of depression.

He added that a psychiatrist was satisfied Robinson was sane and fit to plead and not suffering from a mental disorder.

Defence solicitor advocate Andy Houston said: "There was no argument and no flashpoint which either boy can recall which can explain what Robinson did to his best friend.

"For whatever reason, he appears to have taken leave of his senses."

Robinson had told police: "Everything just goes blank and the next thing I know I have got a belt around his throat and I just start panicking."

The judge, Lord Bracadale told Robinson: "Mr Reid was close to death and the assault has had a significant effect on him."