Man Jailed Life for Stabbing Scots Teenager Edinburgh

Bailey Dowling, 21, was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum of 15 years for the murder of 18-year-old Lewis McCartney in Edinburgh in February 2023. Dowling, who had traveled from London to Scotland for a visit, armed himself with a knife and stabbed McCartney in the back during a street altercation in the Dumbiedykes area, after both parties had taken the party drug ketamine. Following the attack, Dowling hid the murder weapon in the grounds of Holyrood Palace, the official residence of the King when in Scotland, before fleeing back to London where he later surrendered to police. Dowling claimed self-defense, stating he was struck on the head with a bottle and was 'dazed and confused,' but was convicted of murder and unlawful possession of an offensive weapon. The judge, Lord Matthews, emphasized that taking a knife into the street is never acceptable and noted that McCartney was robbed of a promising future, deeply mourned by family and friends. Another individual involved in the incident, Benjamin Wilson, was convicted of assaulting Dowling by hitting him with a bottle and received a community payback order.