CCTV shows murderer armed with knife before Justin McLaughlin's death

We previously reported that Daniel Haig, 18, was jailed for life today after stabbing Justin McLaughlin at High Street station on October 16, 2021.

The Crown Office has since revealed pictures taken from CCTV footage from the station.

They show Haig, who was 16 at the time of the murder, with the knife on the platform, arriving at the station and leaving the station. 

Daniel Haig with knife (Image: Crown Office)

Daniel Haig arriving station (Image: Crown Office)

Prosecutor Moira Orr, head of homicide and major crime for Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, (COPFS), said the carrying of knives is blighting communities and destroying young lives.

She said: “This case is tragic evidence of the destruction wreaked when young people carry bladed weapons.

“Daniel Haig armed himself with a knife. Just 16 himself at the time, he was carrying it in his rucksack as he walked in Glasgow city centre.

“And because he had that knife, Justin McLaughlin lost his life two days after his 14th birthday.

"His family, his friends and a wider community have been left utterly bereft. “Our thoughts are with them now as they struggle with the enormity of their loss.

“Meanwhile, at the age of 18, Haig now faces a future spent in jail as a result of his actions.

“We must hope this sends a message to children and teenagers who may be tempted to carry knives. They risk causing calamitous and irreparable harm to others and to themselves.”

The scene at the station during police investigations (Image: Crown Office)

Daniel Haig (Image: Police Scotland)

Haig left Justin dying on the platform after the single knife blow.

During the trial at the High Court in Glasgow in June, prosecutors were able to play CCTV which recorded the entirety of an altercation that took place before the stabbing. 

The trial heard that Justin and his friends had arrived at the train station and spotted Haig and a friend, who were affiliated with a rival gang in Glasgow’s East End. 

Haig said to his friend: "All of them are running at us."

He told the court he got a knife from his rucksack and slipped it into his waistband. His friend urged him "not to do anything stupid".

But Haig ran at the group and a clash broke out on the platform. After the scuffle ended, Haig jumped onto the track to retrieve the bladed weapon which he had dropped.

CCTV footage captured him running after the youngsters. Justin tripped and fell before Haig caught up with him and plunged the knife into him.

As Haig fled from the station he discarded the knife in a bin.