A teenager who fatally stabbed a young man in Edinburgh while out on bail for a previous knife-related offense has been sentenced to life in prison, with a minimum term of 17 years before he can be considered for release.
The 17-year-old admitted to killing 22-year-old John McNab in Leith on September 2, 2025. The attack occurred just four months after the teenager had been released on bail following a separate knife incident involving another teenager.
During sentencing, the court described the killing as a senseless act of violence that devastated Mr. McNab’s family and friends. The judge said the young victim had his entire future ahead of him and that his death left an immeasurable loss for those who loved him.
According to evidence presented in court, the teenager had been involved in an earlier confrontation with a group of people on the night of the attack. After the dispute, he remained in the area for more than two hours before targeting Mr. McNab, who was not involved in the earlier altercation.
Mr. McNab was attacked while leaving a nearby flat to get a taxi. Despite attempts to escape, he suffered fatal injuries and later died.
The case has drawn renewed attention to concerns about knife crime and youth violence. It has also raised questions about bail decisions involving individuals accused of serious violent offenses.
Since her son’s death, John McNab’s mother, Lisa Petrie, has become an advocate for stronger measures aimed at reducing knife violence. She has called for tighter controls on knife sales and greater protections to prevent dangerous weapons from falling into the hands of young people.
Petrie has also questioned why the teenager was granted bail following the earlier knife attack, arguing that stronger intervention may have prevented the tragedy.
The defense told the court that the teenager had accepted responsibility for his actions and expressed remorse for the suffering caused to the victim’s family and friends. The court also heard that he has since been diagnosed with autism and post-traumatic stress disorder.
The teenager was ordered to be detained for life. Any future release will depend on a decision by parole authorities, who must determine whether he no longer poses a risk to the public.
The case continues to fuel debate over knife crime, youth offending, and the balance between rehabilitation and public safety in the justice system.
