Judges anger at gang madness after boy admits killing rival teen

A schoolboy has admitted killing a fellow teenager following a dispute over £50.

The attacker, who was 13 at the time, stabbed Kory McCrimmon, 16, in the heart after a confrontation in Glasgow’s east end last May 31.

The pair were associated with rival gangs with threats earlier exchanged on social media.

A judge yesterday (tue) told the young killer who cannot be named for legal reasons: ‘If there was ever a case which shows the utter folly of running with a gang, it is this one.’

The accused, now 14, appeared in the dock at the High Court in Glasgow.

He had initially faced an allegation of murder.

But, his KC John Scullion offered a guilty plea to the reduced charge of culpable homicide while acting under provocation.

This was accepted by prosecutor Greg Farrell.

The killer will remain in Kibble Secure Unit, in Renfrewshire, as he awaits sentencing in May.

Before the attack, the boy had social work involvement as he had not been attending school.

Kory McCrimmon died after being stabbed in the heart during a confrontation last May. His attacker was just 13

Lord Mulholland said there ‘If there was ever a case which shows the utter folly of running with a gang, it is this.

His victim - who had played for Easterhouse Football Academy - had no previous convictions.

The court heard Kory and his killer were known as ‘rivals’ hailing from different gangs.

It was also told the pair had regularly been in touch with each other on Instagram.

The contact was initially on ‘good terms’ before there was a ‘falling out’ over £50.

The court heard the killer was refusing to pay Kory back.

Mr Farrell said: ‘The messages became increasingly acrimonious.

‘There were insults and threats of violence made by both parties to one another.’

Despite this, it appeared, at one stage, the row could be resolved.

But, an Instagram page used by different gang members, revealed further threats by the 14-year-old on the day of the attack with Kory responding.

Mr Farrell told the court the two sides arranged to meet in Greenfield Park and added: ‘There is a significant amount of bravado and posturing on both sides in the build up to the confrontation being planned.

‘The participants to this chat appear to be egging each other on in anticipation of a gang fight later that day.’

A large crowd of youngsters gathered at the park that night, some under the influence, with the killer part of a gang storming in wielding batons, bats and bladed weapons.

They challenged Kory and his friends to a fight.

Mr Farrell told the court that during the confrontation the 14-year-old struck out with a knife stabbing Kory once on the chest.

He slumped to the ground while the young thug and his associates fled.

Emergency services called and the victim was taken to the city’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital where he died on June 2.

The attacker ended up at Glasgow Royal Infirmary on the night of the killing saying he’d been in a ‘fight in a park’.

He was then transferred to the same hospital Kory was in.

It was there he was arrested initially for attempted murder. The boy later made no comment when interviewed.

His solicitor told the court Kory had lashed out first with the accused ‘reacting’ by striking him with the knife.

Members of the families for both boys were in court yesterday.

Lord Mulholland told the young killer that using a blade on someone was ‘cowardly’ and that it is a ‘lottery’ if the person survives.

In stinging remarks, he added: ‘If there was ever a case which shows the utter folly of running with a gang, it is this.

‘It is not cool to be a gang member, it does not make you a tough guy.

‘It does not make you hard, if that is something that you want to aspire to.

‘I have been in and around these courts for more than 40 years and I have seen the tragedy of this case played out so many times.’

Lord Mulholland said Kory’s parents Neil and Elizabeth have been given a ‘life sentence of grief and loss’ for their son.

The judge concluded: ‘All for a stupid gang fight over a sum of money. It is utter madness.’

Sentencing was adjourned for reports.