I’M HERE TO KILL YOU... TIME TO DIE
Crazed man’s chilling threat to cops as he stood naked, covered in blood, and proclaiming he was God after stabbing his dog and trying to hang it
A crazed Strathaven man who claimed he was God has admitted stabbing his pet dog and trying to hang the helpless pooch from a door handle.
In a terrifying ordeal at his home last May, Martin Stewart lost the plot and claimed the world was going to end.
As cops rushed to the scene, they were met with a naked Stewart “saturated in blood” who challenged them and warned he’d been “commanded” to kill them.
He told them: “I’m God. I’m here to kill you. Time to f...... die.”
Despite the horrific incident, Stewart’s partner – who made a frantic call to police for help – is standing by him, submitting a letter to the courts in support of her man.
Now a petition to boycott the band fronted by the professional musician has amassed nearly 1100 signatures.
A crazed Strathaven dog owner stabbed and tried to strangle his pet labrador while claiming he was God and the world was about to end.
Martin Stewart’s horrified partner tried desperately to intervene as he hung the helpless dog with its lead from a door handle.
He then stabbed the pooch twice in the stomach before turning the knife on himself, stabbing his neck.
Stewart – naked and covered in blood – then confronted police officers, warning that he’d been “commanded” to kill them.
Sheriff Thomas Millar heard details of the shocking events at Hamilton Sheriff Court last week.
On Friday, 32-yearold Stewart admitted threatening or abusive behaviour and dog cruelty at his home in Rokeby Crescent on May 22 last year.
He also admitted assaulting two police officers, but charges of possessing cannabis and resisting arrest were dropped.
Jennifer Cunningham, prosecuting, said Stewart – a professional musician – has no previous convictions.
Now a petition has been launched online to boycott music made by Stewart, which can be streamed on services such as Spotify, Amazon Music, and Apple Music. Ms Cunningham told the court how his partner had noticed his mood was “low” in the days prior to the incidents.
His partner had woken up during the night and gone downstairs.
She then heard oneyear-old labrador Fergus squealing and went back upstairs to find Stewart had the dog in a headlock.
He was applying pressure to its neck and the dog’s eyes were “rolling”.
Ms Cunningham told the court: “She tried to pull the dog away from him, but fell.
“The dog ran from the room and went downstairs. Stewart’s partner was unable to calm him down.
“He was running about, saying she was the Queen of Scotland and the world was going to end in two days.
“The accused ran downstairs and put the lead round the dog’s neck.
“He looped the other end through the handle of the front door and pulled so that the dog was lifted off the floor, suspended by its neck.
“His partner put her arm under the dog, screaming at Stewart to stop as Fergus was choking.
“She then ran outside and phoned 999.
“When she returned she saw the accused stab the dog twice in the abdomen with a kitchen knife.
“The woman tried to wrestle the knife from Stewart who then stabbed himself in the neck.”
Police officers arrived to find Stewart “naked and saturated from head-to-toe in blood”.
He ran towards them, performing a lewd act as he did so.
The officers ordered Stewart’s partner to barricade herself in the living room.
He told them “God has commanded me to kill you both. Time to f...... die.”
Stewart lunged at one officer, trying to scratch and punch him, and kicked the other.
He continued to make bizarre comments such as “I’m God. I’m here to kill you. I’m going to end the world.”
The officers used their batons and discharged incapacitating spray to little effect.
Finally, a baton blow to the stomach knocked Stewart to the floor and he was subdued.
He was taken to hospital where his neck wound was stitched.
The dog was treated by an emergency vet. Its stab wounds were stitched and it has made a full recovery.
The court heard that, despite the traumatic events, Stewart and his partner remain a couple, with his defence agent submitting a letter of support from her.
The solicitor said his client was examined by a psychiatrist and was found fit to plead to the charges.
A campaign urging people to “boycott” music made by Stewart has garnered large support online.
A petition had amassed nearly 1100 signatures as the News went to press, urging people to boycott his band, ‘Another Filthy Weekend’.
After signing the petition, one woman wrote: “That individual is a disgrace and has no place in the limelight. “Sickening.”
Another wrote: “Cruelty to animals is the most heinous crime ever. It should be punishable in the same way as assault against people.
“This man is disgusting and needs jailed.”
The social media channels of the band have been removed.
Sheriff Millar called for a criminal justice social work report and deferred sentence until next month.
Stewart remains on bail.