Parents 'don't hate' son's killer

The father of a teenager who was stabbed to death in East Dunbartonshire has said he and his wife "do not hate" their son's schoolboy killer.

Jim Johnston was speaking after the 15-year-old admitted the culpable homicide of his son, Christopher, 17, in January this year.

The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, also admitted stabbing another teenager on the same night.

Sentence at the High Court in Glasgow was deferred for reports.

Earlier, the court had heard how Christopher Johnston, from Bishopbriggs, was fatally stabbed in the leg after confronting the boy in a lane near the town's Pentland Drive, on 26 January.

The attack happened minutes after the boy, who was just 14 at the time, had stabbed Chrstopher's 17-year-old friend, Keni Carmichael.

"In my opinion the problem has been this boy and not the knife culture. He was passed from pillar to post and didn't get the help he needed. He fell through the net"
Jim Johnston

The court was told how Christopher's distraught parents ran out and found him lying in the street.

He died about an hour later from massive blood loss after being rushed to Glasgow Royal Infirmary.

His attacker, who is detained at St Philips secure unit in Airdrie, was originally charged with murder and attempted murder.

But halfway through his trial, the Crown accepted his guilty plea to the reduced charges of culpable homicide and stabbing to injury.

Judge Lord Matthews said: "One day undoubtedly this boy will go home, but Christopher Johnston will not.

"That is the real tragedy of the carrying and use of knives, particularly where drink is involved."

'No hate'

He deferred sentence until later this month for background reports.

Speaking after the trial, Jim Johnston, 50, said that he and his wife Elizabeth, 49, did not hate the boy.

"We don't hate him, we hate what he has done," he said.

"This case is unusual. In my opinion the problem has been this boy and not the knife culture.

"He was passed from pillar to post and didn't get the help he needed. He fell through the net.

"He was an accident waiting to happen. He is a danger and hopefully he can get the help he needs.

Mr Johnston said it was hard to come to terms with the fact that there was "no reason" for his son's death.

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