Teenager, 15, killed 70-year-old man 30 minutes after being freed by police after slashing shopkeeper

A teenage boy killed a stranger just 30 minutes after he had been freed by police for slashing a shopkeeper.

The 15 year-old punched Patrick Colhoun, 70, who fell and suffered a fatal injury following the attack in Victoria Road in Glasgow’s Govanhill on April 12 this year.

The boy had that same day struck the shopkeeper with a blade after an incident at the 65-year-old’s off-sales.

The teenager – who cannot be identified due to his age – appeared in the dock at the High Court in Glasgow on Tuesday.

He pleaded guilty – via his KC John Scullion – to the culpable homicide of Mr Colhoun.

The boy also admitted to assaulting the shopkeeper to his injury.

He will be sentenced next month. The 15-year-old is currently detained at a secure unit.

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

The attack on the shopkeeper occurred after the boy and a friend had gone to the store in Govanhill around 4pm on April 12.

They demanded the shopkeeper and his son “come outside”.

Instead, the men told them to leave. The shopkeeper then followed them 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 [the shopkeeper] striking him on the arm.”

The man ended up needing stitches for a wound.

The teenager fled, went home and told his father what happened.

Hs dad then drove back to the scene and admitted to police there his son “had been involved in an incident”.

It lead to the boy being arrested that night.

Ms Gray said: “At 11.15pm, he was released from police custody having been given an undertaking to attend at Glasgow Sheriff Court on April 30, 2024.”

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

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

At 11.42pm – after collecting his food – Mr Colhoun was seen standing behind a car rented by the boy’s dad.

CCTV then captured the teenager coming into the street and accusing Mr Colhoun of urinating at the motor.

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

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

At one stage, the boy’s father is seen on CCTV moving the car away as a person does chest compressions on a stricken Mr Colhoun.

The court heard mercy crews who arrived could not save Mr Colhoun.

He had suffered a brain bleed, a large skull fracture and bruising.

The fact Mr Colhoun 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 and was spotted hiding in a doorway.

He was again arrested and stated: “I slapped him. He was p***ing on my father’s car.

“I shouted at him, but he would not listen.”

Mr Colhoun – who lived in the city’s Pollokshields – is survived by his sister and brother.

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

He ordered the boy to remain in the secure unit where he is currently held.