Teenager killed man 30 minutes after police freed him

A teenager killed a man in the southside of Glasgow just 30 minutes after he had been freed by police for attacking a shopkeeper.

The 15-year-old punched Patrick Colquhoun, 70, who fell and suffered a fatal injury on Victoria Road in Govanhill in April.

Earlier that day, the boy had struck Nadeen Mohammed with a blade following an incident at the 65 year-old’s shop.

The teenager – who cannot be identified due to his age – pleaded guilty to the culpable homicide of Mr Colquhoun via his lawyer at the High Court in Glasgow.

He also admitted to assaulting Mr Mohammed to his injury.

The 15-year-old will be sentenced next month, and he is currently being detained at a secure unit.

Prosecutor Angela Gray KC told the court how there had been “concerns” raised about the boy’s behaviour in 2023.

The court heard the attack on Mr Mohammed occurred after the boy and a friend had gone to the off-sales store in Govanhill at about 16:00 on 12 April.

They demanded the shopkeeper and his son “come outside” but the men told them to leave. Mr Mohammed then followed them outside before there was an altercation.

Ms Gray said: “The boy removed a knife from the waistband of his trousers and made a slashing motion towards Mr Mohammed striking him on the arm.”

He ended up needing stitches for a wound.

The teenager went home and told his father what happened. His father then drove back to the shop and admitted to police there his son “had been involved in an incident”.

The boy was arrested and released later that night, and was due to appear in court on 30 April.

He was picked up by his mother, but he jumped out her car after becoming angry with her.

Around the same time, Mr Colquhoun had left his local bar the Queen’s Park Cafe to visit a nearby takeaway.

At about 23:40 he was seen standing behind a car rented by the boy’s father. CCTV then captured the teenager coming into the street and accusing him of urinating at the motor.

Ms Gray said: “A witness saw the boy go towards Mr Colquhoun and punch him on the head.”

The court heard the victim fell backwards after being attacked and struck his head on the road as he hit the ground.

The teenager then walked off as members of the public rushed to help the victim.

At one stage, the boy’s father was seen on CCTV moving the car away as a person did chest compressions on Mr Colquhoun.

The court heard he had suffered a brain bleed, a large skull fracture and bruising.

The fact Mr Colquhoun had been drinking that night may have triggered a brain condition which could have been a “a potential contributing factor” in the death.

The teenage attacker was traced via CCTV, was found hiding in a doorway and arrested.

Lord Harrower deferred sentencing for a background report until 18 October in Edinburgh.