Teenage killer says insanity drove him to stab a stranger
A TEENAGER who stabbed a cleaner in a busy city centre claims he was insane at the time and not responsible for his actions.
A court heard Tianhul Zhan had been receiving psychiatric treatment since he was 14 and living in Canada.
The 19-year-old is accused of murdering Michael Davis in broad daylight in Glasgow last October.
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He denies murder and has lodged a special defence of insanity at the High Court in Glasgow. The jury was read facts agreed by the Crown and defence in which Zhan admits stabbing Michael, 21, to death.
The court heard that: “The accused approached Mr Davis and without provocation struck him repeatedly with the knife that he had purchased from Lakeland in Buchanan Galleries on 9 October 2010.”
Michael was on his way to a cleaning job when he encountered Zhan.
I’m going to die Auntie Jo. It was a big knife
As he walked along speaking to a friend, Ronald Bain, on his mobile he was approached by Zhan who stabbed him three times.
Bain told the court he heard Zhan ask Michael where the nearest cash machine was. Bain heard a commotion and his friend said “I’ve been stabbed.”
After the attack, Michael managed to get to his feet and stagger back to the office.
He told his aunt, Josephine McKinlay, who was working there: “I’m going to die Auntie Jo. It was a big knife.”
Michael was taken to Glasgow Royal Infirmary but died the following day.
Zhan, who was born in China but lived in Toronto was diagnosed with bipolar disorder with psychotic feature.
He was spotted on CCTV leaving his hotel and then returning minutes before and after the stabbing.
The following morning, Zhan flew to Amsterdam.
The jury was told that it is agreed that in the days leading up to Mr Davis’ death Zhan carried out various internet searches.
These included UK murder sentences, Glasgow Police Station, Paul Ferris, Glasgow gangsters and international arrest warrants. Judge O’Grady told the jury: “This is an unusual case in that there is broad agreement about what happened on the day in question. This case will be about the state of mind of the accused.”
The trial continues.
