Police have released a photograph of a teenage killer who stabbed a solicitor to death in a busy shopping centre, now that he has turned 18.
Ewan Ireland, whose identity could not be revealed by the media when he was still a juvenile, already had a history of violence when he targeted family man Peter Duncan, a 52-year-old father, with a screwdriver he stole from Poundland.
He was named by the media on Sunday, his 18th birthday, and Northumbria Police released a custody photo on Monday.
Newcastle Crown Court previously heard that Duncan, the in-house lawyer for a multi-national maritime firm, was on his way home and “simply in the wrong place at the wrong time” when he crossed paths with the yob at an entrance to Newcastle’s Eldon Square shopping centre.
The solicitor raised his arm to let the teenager past at the doorway – to which the youth took exception – and a struggle followed in which Duncan was fatally stabbed in the heart.
He collapsed near a Greggs outlet in the mall, which was still busy with teatime shoppers on August 14.
The serial criminal was on bail for affray when he stabbed the devoted father.Ireland was still 17 when he pleaded guilty last month to murder. But now that he has become an adult, Section 45 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 no longer applies.
The case provoked outrage, with many people commenting on social media that if
Ireland felt he was old enough to carry a weapon, he was old enough to be named as a killer.
When he murdered Duncan, the teenager, from the Westerhope area of Newcastle, was looking for another youth with whom he had fallen out over some cigarettes.
At a previous bail hearing, prosecutor Kevin Wardlaw said Ireland and Duncan came into contact with each other by chance when they were walking in opposite directions.
Wardlaw said: “The deceased raised his arm to let the defendant get past.
“It is captured on CCTV footage.
“The defendant took exception to that, took hold of the deceased and a struggle ensued.”
Duncan managed to push the teenager off, at which point Ireland stabbed him once in the heart.
He managed to walk a short distance before collapsing to the ground.CCTV cameras tracked the youth’s movements through the city centre, and the murder weapon was found later.
At a bail hearing, Newcastle Crown Court heard that Ireland had 17 convictions for 31 offences between 2017 and 2019, including an incident where he grabbed a knife during a family argument.
There was also an occasion when he threatened a driver with a blade after he was challenged about drinking alcohol on the bus.
At the time of the murder, he was on bail for affray.
Duncan’s family previously issued a statement in which they said: “Peter was a kind and caring man who was always first to help others.
“He was a devoted father, husband, son, brother, uncle and friend and loved by all who knew him.
“His death will leave such a huge hole in our lives and he’ll be deeply missed by us all.
“Words can’t quite describe what life will be like without him.
“He had so much of his life left to live and he’ll be in our hearts and thoughts every day.”
Ireland is currently in custody and will be sentenced in December after psychiatric reports are prepared.Related... Teenager Admits Murdering Lawyer With Screwdriver Teenager In Court Accused Of Murdering Lawyer With A Screwdriver 17-Year-Old Charged With Murder Of 'Devoted Father' Peter Duncan New Details Emerge Of 'Devoted Father' Stabbed To Death In Newcastle