A 17-year-old boy has admitted murdering a 22-year-old man with a hunting knife in Edinburgh, while he was on bail for a previous knife attack on a teenager. The youth, who cannot be named due to his age, pleaded guilty to both offences at the High Court in Edinburgh on Wednesday.
Brutal Attack on John McNab
The fatal attack occurred on September 2, 2025, on Great Junction Street in Leith, Edinburgh. John McNab was chased and repeatedly stabbed by the teenager, who was 16 at the time. The court heard that Mr McNab pleaded for his life, saying, "Please, please don't. I haven't done anything." After the attack, the killer messaged a friend, boasting: "Ran after him on the middle of Junction Street wi a big Rambo, he fell to the groon and I started stabbing f*** oot o him."
CCTV footage of the attack was played in court, causing some of Mr McNab's family and friends to leave the room. Many wore T-shirts in memory of the victim.
Previous Knife Attack
Just four months before the murder, on March 21, 2025, the same youth had attacked a 16-year-old boy at Portobello Beach, seriously injuring him. He was charged and released on bail by a sheriff at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on April 25, 2025.
Events Leading to the Murder
On the night of the murder, Mr McNab was socialising with friends. A meeting was arranged for the youth to buy cannabis from one of Mr McNab's friends. The teenager arrived wearing a balaclava and produced cash, but a disagreement arose. One of Mr McNab's friends ripped up the notes and slapped him. The prosecutor stated that Mr McNab played no part in the exchange.
After the group walked away, the youth followed them, shouting threats. They fled to a flat and locked the door. Mr McNab messaged his girlfriend, saying they had "just got chased with a samurai sword" and named the teenager. The youth remained nearby, smashed a window at the flat, and shouted "come on then" before retrieving a large knife from a rucksack. He hid in bushes until Mr McNab left the flat, then chased and attacked him.
A resident heard the disturbance and reported hearing a distressed male shouting "please don't." Looking out of his window, he saw Mr McNab on the ground with a person in black lunging down as if punching his abdomen.
Aftermath and Injuries
The attacker fled, and Mr McNab briefly got to his feet, calling for help before collapsing. His friends heard him and found him on the road. He was heard saying, "Help me, help me, I'm dying." Paramedics arrived to find four stab wounds: three to his left thigh and one to his abdomen. He went into cardiac arrest, and despite 40 minutes of advanced life support, he died.
Police recovered a hunting knife with Mr McNab's blood on the 20cm blade and the youth's DNA on the handle. A post-mortem revealed that the abdominal wound penetrated about 10cm, damaging the largest artery and vein, causing fatal bleeding.
Legal Proceedings
The youth will receive an automatic life sentence, with sentencing deferred for a report. Judge Lord Harrower will consider a motion by the BBC to lift reporting restrictions on identifying the youth at the next hearing at the High Court in Dundee.
