Teenager faces fire death trial

Stewart Blackburn's guilty plea to culpable homicide was rejected

A youth accused of murdering a 17-year-old girl by pouring petrol over her and setting it alight at a flat in Arbroath has admitted killing her.

Stewart Blackburn, 18, is alleged to have left Jessica McCagh so severely injured during the attack on 25 April that she later died.

An offer by Mr Blackburn to plead guilty to the lesser charge of culpable homicide was rejected by the Crown.

The murder trial is being heard at the High Court in Livingston.

The Crown alleges that Blackburn threw petrol on Ms McCagh and her bed and set fire to her.

The alleged attack took place in a flat on Bloomfield Road, Arbroath, Angus, on 25 April. Ms McCagh died later that day in Ninewells Hospital, Dundee.

Blackburn is also charged with an earlier assault on Ms McCagh, committing a breach of the peace by pointing an air rifle at two men and pulling the trigger, and possession of cannabis.

Jessica McCagh died from her burns at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee

Solicitor General Frank Mulholland QC, prosecuting, began proceedings by showing the jury photographs of the accused taken the day after the alleged attack.

The first witness, Det Cons Mark Stewart of Tayside Police, photographed the images to show any injuries on Blackburn's body.

The court heard that Blackburn had cuts and abrasions on his hands and legs. He also had bandages on the back of his left knee, which showed "reddening" on the skin.

The murder trial continues.