Teens admit attempted murder of boy, 13, at Glasgow station
- Published
The victim boarded the train at Glasgow's High Street station
Three teenagers have admitted the attempted murder of 13-year-old boy on board a busy train in Glasgow.
Their victim was left brain damaged and missed two years of school after the attack at High Street Station on 15 October 2021.
The incident happened the day before another boy, 14-year-old Justin McLaughlin, was stabbed to death at the same station.
The trio, aged 16, 15 and 13, pleaded guilty at the High Court in Glasgow.
None of the teenagers can be named due to their age.
Lord Scott described the attack as "shocking and sickening violence".
He said: "The damage caused is going to be lifelong.
"It was broad daylight with a lot of people travelling on the train. That is a worrying aspect to how out of control all three became."
The court heard that the three chased the boy down the carriage before he fell, at which point they began stamping and jumping on him.
They left him for dead before sprinting off the train when it stopped at the city's Bellgrove Station.
CCTV footage captured two of the trio hugging each other after they ran upstairs onto the street.
Passengers went to help the unresponsive boy before emergency crews attended.
He suffered a significant brain injury, a fractured collarbone as well other bruising and swelling.
Footage of the incident was later shared on social media.
Justin McLaughlin was stabbed to death at the station a day later
The boy missed his third and fourth years at high school and he continues to suffer behavioural and memory issues.
The court heard that the mother of the of the 16-year-old attacker called police after her son confessed his involvement
He told officers he would be "honest" with them and that he had "stamped" on a boy's head.
He added: "There was loads of us - not just me."
The other two teens were arrested after being identified from film footage.
Never recovered
The attack came the day before Justin McLaughlin died in an attack after being stabbed in the heart by Daniel Haig.
He was taken to hospital after the attack but never recovered.
Haig, who was 16 at the time, admitted delivering the fatal blow but had denied murder. He was found guilty after a trial at the High Court in Glasgow.
He was jailed for life last year and will have to serve at least 16 years before he can apply for parole.
Sentencing on the three teenagers was deferred until 17 April in Edinburgh.
They were bailed with a daily 19:00 curfew and ordered not to contact each other.
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