A teen stabbed a stranger at an Edinburgh bus stop after a “Harry Potter” remark. The victim suffered serious injuries.
The teen, only seventeen, can’t be named. He argued with Liam McKechnie on March 17, 2024. The court said the teen wore big, black glasses.
Apparently, McKechnie made a Harry Potter joke and told the teen to “calm down, Harry Potter.” Then, the teen pulled out a knife. He stabbed McKechnie in the torso. McKechnie and his friends didn’t realize he was hurt at first. People tried to stop the fight, and the teen’s glasses fell off.
McKechnie felt pain and lifted his shirt. He saw the stab wound and told his friends. The teen admitted to severely injuring McKechnie. The charge said he caused permanent damage, adding that McKechnie’s life was endangered.
McKechnie was at the bus stop with friends around 12:45 AM. He and the teen didn’t know each other, meeting around 12:47 AM. The Harry Potter comment seemed to trigger the attack. A witness said the Harry Potter comment made the teen angry.
Witnesses agreed the argument turned physical quickly. The fight moved a short distance from the bus stop. Then McKechnie got stabbed again. The pair shoved each other. McKechnie collapsed at 12:55 AM, clutching his body. The teen stabbed him twice more. After that, the teen ran towards Market Street, and McKechnie said, “I can’t breathe.”
An ambulance arrived quickly and took McKechnie to the hospital. Doctors removed his spleen in surgery. His injuries were very serious; without surgery, he could have died and will have permanent scars.
Police investigated and found the teen, arresting him on March 20, 2024. The court learned this was the teen’s first offense. The teen’s lawyer asked for bail before sentencing later this year. His lawyer said this case shows how bad carrying a knife is. The teen knows he may get a prison sentence. If granted bail, his mom would take him to meet with a social worker.
The lawyer asked the court to consider all options, saying the teen is different now. The judge granted bail but warned the teen, noting the crime makes prison likely. He ordered a social work report and told the teen not to assume bail means no prison. Sentencing will be on April 1, 2025.