Man killed with Buckfast bottle

Irvine and Mackay were originally charged with murder

Two teenage drinkers have admitted killing a man they attacked as he lay on the ground near a shopping centre.

Jack Wilde, 24, was repeatedly kicked and hit with a Buckfast wine bottle after being chased in Glenrothes, Fife.

He was challenged to a "square go" after he came across the youths at the Glenwood Shopping centre.

At the High Court, Robbie McKay, aged 17 and 18-year-old Andrew Irvine admitted culpable homicide. They were remanded in custody pending reports.

The pair were originally charged with murdering their victim following the attack in August, but the Crown accepted their guilty pleas to a reduced charge.

Asked for cigarette

Two other youths, Lawrence Nelson, aged 16, also known as Scott Nelson, and Grant Patridge, aged 17, were originally accused of the murder, but their guilty pleas to assaulting Mr Wilde were accepted.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard that Mr Wilde, from Glenrothes, had been out drinking when he came across the teenagers.

Patridge, who was using crutches after breaking a leg, became aware of Mr Wilde, who appeared to be drunk.

He asked the group for a cigarette, but McKay said he would not give him one.

While McKay was kicking him, Irvine struck the deceased three or four times to the head and body with a Buckfast bottle that he was holding. Advocate depute John Scullion

The victim moved off, but Patridge was heard to ask him where he was from. Mr Wilde did not reply and started to walk off, but Irvine, McKay and Patridge asked if he wanted a "square go".

The victim turned and shouted towards Patridge something along the lines of "Do you want your other leg broken?"

Nelson, Irvine and McKay immediately began a pursuit of Mr Wilde with Patridge hobbling along behind on his crutches.

Advocate depute John Scullion said: "The deceased was chased for approximately 200 yards by the accused before being caught by Nelson."

Nelson got to him first and punched him in the face and the victim fell to the ground. McKay and Irvine approached as the victim was already down.

Buckfast bottle

Mr Scullion said: "McKay then kicked the deceased on the head and body approximately five times. While McKay was kicking him, Irvine struck the deceased three or four times to the head and body with a Buckfast bottle that he was holding.

"At the beginning of the assault by McKay and Irvine the deceased appeared to be trying to defend himself. He had his arms up in front of his face and his legs were curled up.

"During the assault he was seen to stop defending himself. His arms fell to his side and it appeared to witnesses that he had been knocked out.

"Following the assault by McKay and Irvine, the deceased is described by witnesses as no longer moving and staring into space. It is accepted by the accused, McKay and Irvine, that the deceased suffered the fatal blow during the assault by them."

Patridge caught up with the group and proceeded to strike the fallen victim "forcefully" to the head and body with a crutch.

Mr Scullion told the court: "The deceased did not move or make a noise when he was struck."

Lady Dorrian called for background reports and risk assessments on McKay and Irvine and their co-accused before sentencing.

The judge ordered that all four youths should be remanded in custody.