Man jailed for life for murdering teenager in Edinburgh
He armed himself with a large kitchen knife before meeting the victim and his friends in Dumbiedykes.
Violence then erupted, the court heard, during which Dowling was struck on the head before he stabbed Mr McCartney in the back. He claimed he was "dazed and confused" during the incident and did not intend to harm the victim.The court also heard Dowling hid the knife on the grounds of Holyrood Palace, the official residence of the King when he is in Scotland.He then left Edinburgh for his home in London, where he later handed himself in to police.Benjamin Wilson, 20, was given a two-year community payback order after being convicted of assaulting Dowling by hitting him on the head with a bottle in the same incident. Judge Lord Matthews told Dowling that his victim had "everything to live for" and that his loss was devastating for family and friends.He told the court: "It is clear you came to Edinburgh for what you hoped would be an enjoyable time and so it would have been but for the decisions you made."The judge added: "Taking a knife into the street is never acceptable."
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