Chilling threat to eight-year-old girl

During an early morning video call to his former partner, a Perthshire man with a record of violence made a chilling threat to decapitate her eightyear-old daughter.

Thirty-three-year-old David Murray, of Main Street, Methven, said he was driving to her home at the time - and also threatened to stab them both.

During part of the call, Murray said: “I am going to cut your daughter into pieces.

“I am going to cut her head clean off,” Perth Sheriff Court heard yesterday.

She was so terrified that she hung up and decided to contact the police, depute fiscal Lisa Marshall told the court.

It emerged that the frightened female has since moved away from the area.

Sheriff William Wood deferred sentence until July 19 for a background report after hearing that the accused is currently subject to a Community Payback Order.

Because of his previous convictions – for being in possession of a weapon and assault to severe injury and permanent disfigurement – he remanded Murray in custody meantime.

He wanted more information before deciding whether he should be “allowed back on the streets again.”

Murray admitted an amended charge of repeatedly contacting his former girlfriend by video call and telephone on June 4, shouting and swearing at her, threatening to stab her and her daughter and cut the youngster’s head off.

Ms Marshall said she had ended the relationship in February of this year.

About 6.30 on the morning of June 4, however, she accepted a video call from the accused.

“It didn’t go particularly well - the accused was accusing her of lying to him and he was abusive towards her and her daughter.”

When that call ended, she received another just minutes later.

He said he was driving a car and was making his way to her home address.

The stabbing and decapitation threats were then made.

Murray was traced about 6pm that evening and was taken to Perth police headquarters.

He gave a “no comment” interview and made no reply when cautioned and charged.

Solicitor David Holmes said the accused, who is an engineer, “completely regrets” the terms he used.

He added: “The relationship is very much at an end.”

He would be willing to adhere to any bail conditions imposed while a background report was prepared.

But Sheriff Wood remanded him in custody, branding the threats made “horrendous.”

Their terrifying nature had also been made worse because he had said he was physically making his way to see her.