Teenage girl convicted of Holytown murder
A girl has become one of Scotland's youngest female murderers after killing a boy she met just hours earlier.
The 17 year-old plunged a knife into the neck of innocent Conner Cowper at a flat in Holytown, Lanarkshire.
The teenager – who cannot be named – was pregnant at the time of attack in April this year.
Jurors heard Conner had “fancied” the girl – but she kissed another young man that night.
Prosecutors claimed she “loved being centre of attention” and was trying to “play the two men off against each other”.
But, the young killer later “exploded” when Conner branded her a “stupid wee girl”.
She grabbed a blade, struck defenceless Conner before fleeing the scene.
The thug – expelled from school aged 11 - later ranted: “I want him to f** choke. I want him f** dead.”
She was soon held by police – but asked for the knife back as it was “good for cutting onions”.
The 17 year-old denied murder during a trial at the High Court in Glasgow.
The teenager insisted she lashed out fearing Conner was going to hit her.
She also claimed to have been affected by a previous abusive relationship at the time.
But, prosecutors branded her evidence “utter nonsense”.
She now faces a life sentence after being convicted today/yesterday.
Lord Arthurson told her: “This was the murder of a young man who you hardly knew and whose life was brutally cut short with a kitchen knife.”
The girl – who gave birth while on remand in Cornton Vale – will return to the dock in the New Year.
The killing happened at a house party in Holytown on April 12.
The girl had only known Conner via Facebook before meeting at the flat.
She told jurors: “He was a nice person.”
The court heard she had confided in him about being attacked by a violent ex.
It was claimed Conner was being “flirty” with her at the party – but she was not interested.
The killer instead kissed another man there. She said Conner's “attitude changed” and he later started rowing with her.
The young mum told the trial the teenager went on to “lunge” at her.
The incident apparently sparked memories of abuse she suffered at the hands of her former lover
Her QC Tony Graham asked: “What did you think?”
She replied: “I thought he was going to assault me. I thought back to when I was with (her ex partner).”
Mr Graham: “You picked up the knife – why?”
The girl: “To defend myself.”
The defence advocate went on: “The knife went four inches into Conner Cowper's neck - how did it get there?”
The 17 year-old: “I did it.”
She left blood-soaked Conner to die as other people at the flat desperately tried to help him.
Police found her near the scene. The court heard she went on to kick and headbutt an officer.
She was described as “laughing” at one stage.
The trial heard how the girl soon made a callous comment while in a police van.
She asked an officer: “Can I have my knife back? It is good for cutting onions.”
Prosecutor Mark McGuire told the court Conner had been “no risk” to the girl.
Mr McGuire added she had been “called out” for trying to cause bother between Conner and the man she kissed.
He said: “You had gone from the most attractive woman in the room to being embarrassed – that must have been mortifying?”
She replied: “Didn't happen.”
The advocate depute went on: “You came into room angry, enraged, humiliated.
“You saw that knife, Conner called you a 'stupid wee girl' and when he turned his back, you picked it up.”
The girl: “No.”
Mr McGuire said the girl “exploded” adding: “You had a knife and, by God, you used it.”
She is due to be sentenced on January 10 in Edinburgh.