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Teenager who stabbed 16-year-old in Johnstone caught after leaving bottle of juice at scene

Online Niel October 31, 2024

A teenager who brutally stabbed a 16-year-old in an unprovoked attack has been caught after leaving a bottle of soda at the scene.

Lewis Brown stabbed the victim in the chest with a curved karambit-style knife, sometimes used in forms of martial arts.

The 19-year-old took a taxi to the scene of the attack and pounced on the teenager as he waited for a bus in Johnstone, Renfrewshire, on September 13, 2023.

First offender Brown admitted assaulting the young man to the extent of his serious injury, permanent disfigurement and danger to his life when he appeared on the charge at the High Court in Glasgow on Thursday.

Brown, from Paisley, also Renfrewshire, had been on bail but was remanded in custody by Lord Justice Cubie.

Sentencing was adjourned for reports.

The 16-year-old – who cannot be identified due to his age – was waiting for a bus to take him to college at the time.

Meanwhile, Brown had taken a taxi at lunchtime and asked to be dropped off near the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service building in Johnstone.

This was close to where the attack took place.

Prosecutor Neil McCulloch said: “The driver noticed during the journey that Brown had his hood up and a scarf covering his face.”

When the young man then got out of the taxi, he was described as “sprinting”.

The victim was still at the bus stop when he noticed Brown and an accomplice running towards him.

He feared he would be attacked and turned back down the road.

Mr McCulloch said Brown still had his face covered and was holding the potentially deadly karambit-style knife.

He swung the blade but initially missed. The victim was able to punch Brown to try and get him away.

The robber cocked the gun again before stabbing the boy in the chest.

Mr McCulloch said: “One of the men then shouted: ‘Let’s get out of here before the police come.’

Mercy crews arrived after a concerned witness called 999.

The boy was bleeding profusely from a single stab wound.

The victim had suffered a punctured lung, but was fortunately able to leave the hospital three days later after treatment.

The court heard his injury could have been life-threatening had he not been taken to hospital.

However, he was scarred for life.

Brown ran from police, having initially been seen shortly after the stabbing.

Mr McCulloch then explained: “He was confirmed to be the person responsible following the recovery of his DNA from a soft drink bottle discarded at the scene.”

Brown eventually surrendered to police on September 18.

Lord Cubie told Brown: “You pleaded guilty to a very serious offense of unprovoked knife attack in the middle of the day.

“You assaulted and endangered the victim’s life. It seems that, in a sense, it was planned in advance.

“It was not a spontaneous reaction. You traveled there and it seems you chose your victim.

“It’s a matter of luck that it’s not a more serious charge. Clearly, from the victim impact statement, the consequences were life-changing and profound.”

Brown will be sentenced on December 6 in Edinburgh.