A 17-year-old boy has appeared in court charged with stabbing a lawyer to death with a screwdriver in a busy shopping centre.
Peter Duncan sustained a fatal chest wound after becoming involved in what police described as a “chance encounter” at 6.20pm on 14 August in Newcastle.
A teenager, who cannot be named because of his age, appeared at North Tyneside magistrates court on Monday morning accused of murdering the 52-year-old.
The boy also faces a charge of possessing an offensive weapon and theft of “a quantity of screwdrivers” from a branch of Poundland.
The charges relate to offences alleged to have taken place on the day of the murder in the Eldon Square shopping centre.
Wearing a grey tracksuit, he spoke only to confirm his name and address, and will appear at Newcastle crown court on Wednesday. His mother was in the court as the five-minute hearing took place.
The chair of the bench, John Nergaard, told the boy: “You have to appear before crown court as we do not have the jurisdiction to deal with bail at this court. You will appear at the crown court on 21 August.”
The boy will then appear at the crown court for a plea hearing on 16 September, the court heard.
Police swiftly arrested eight youths aged between 14 and 17 following Duncan’s murder, with three remaining under investigation in addition to the teenager who appeared in court on Monday.
The victim was described by his family as a “kind and caring man who was always first to help others”.
They added: “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.”
Duncan was an in-house lawyer for a multinational maritime firm. He worked in Newcastle for Royal IHC Limited, which has a city centre office close to where he was attacked.
