Man jailed for playground murder

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A man convicted of murdering a 16-year-old boy in a school playground has been jailed for life.

Derek Ferguson, 26, who stabbed Steven Pettigrew in the grounds of the school in Airdrie in 2005, will have to serve at least 18 years behind bars.

The teenager was left brain damaged and his life-support machine had to be switched off five days after the attack, on 1 April.

In a statement, Mr Pettigrew's family said: "Justice has been done".

Ferguson was retried for the murder on appeal at the High Court in Glasgow after the first trial judge failed to tell the jury it could return the lesser verdict of culpable homicide. The offender, who was out on licence for an axe attack when he attacked Mr Pettigrew with a knife, had a history of violent behaviour.

This was an unprovoked and vicious assault on Steven Pettigrew which robbed him of his young life Lord Malcolm

Ferguson had said he had nothing to do with the death, instead naming his cousin Jamie McCormick as the killer.

The court heard that on the night of the attack a group of youths, including Mr Pettigrew, had gathered at a hut in the school grounds.

Mr McCormick and Ferguson then arrived and, without warning, McCormick kicked Mr Pettigrew in the face, while Ferguson also joined in the violence.

Later, Ferguson stabbed his victim in the back.

Mr Pettigrew's family which includes his father Steven, 41, mother Suzanne, 39, and twin brother Gary, 20, later released a statement outside court.

"We are delighted that once again justice has been done," it said.

"Steven was a loveable 16-year-old boy having a night out with his friends, minding his own business, and this animal took him away from his family forever."

Jailing Ferguson, judge Lord Malcolm told him: "You are an extremely dangerous man.

"This was an unprovoked and vicious assault on Steven Pettigrew which robbed him of his young life."