A teenager has admitted killing Aberdeen schoolboy Bailey Gwynne.

The youth, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared before judge Lady Scott at a preliminary hearing at the High Court in Glasgow today.

The teenager is accused of engaging in a fight with Bailey Gwynne, who was a pupil at Cults Academy in Aberdeen, before murdering him by striking him on the body with a knife.

The 16-year-old’s lawyer David Moggach entered a guilty plea to the reduced allegation of culpable homicide.

Prosecutor Alex Prentice QC said: “The Crown declines to accept that offer of guilty to the culpable homicide charge and will proceed to the murder charge.”

It means the 16-year-old will now appear at the High Court in Aberdeen next week to stand trial for murder, which he denies.

The youth is also alleged to have had knives or “bladed instruments” as well as two knuckledusters “without reasonable excuse or lawful authority”.

These two offences are said to have occurred on “various occasions” between August 1 2013 and the day of the alleged murder.

He also denies these accusations.

Bailey Gwynne was found seriously injured on October 28 last year and the 16-year-old died at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.

The hearing was told up to 16 child witnesses could give evidence.

Judge Lady Scott set a trial due to start on March 1. The case could last up to five days.