Man told he may never be released from prison

Stephen Ramsay stabbed his pregnant partner causing unborn twins to die

A Fife beggar who caused his unborn twins to die when he stabbed his heavily pregnant partner has been told he may never be released from prison.

Stephen Ramsay, 23, previously admitted attempting to murder Lisa Donaldson on February 23 2019 at their home in Glenrothes.

He punched and choked her before stabbing her in the throat, causing substantial blood loss.

Although Ms Donaldson survived thanks to the reactions of police and paramedics, the 32-week-old twins, which were delivered by emergency caesarean section, passed away because they were deprived of blood.

At the High Court in Aberdeen yesterday Ramsay was handed a lifelong restriction order by Lord Kinclaven with a punishment period of five years.

The sentence means Ramsay will serve a minimum of five years in jail before being considered for release on licence.

However, it also means he could be kept imprisoned for the rest of his life if he is judged to remain a danger to the public by risk assessors.

Police had kicked down the door to the couple’s flat at Delgatie Court and found Ramsay with his hands around his victim’s throat while claiming she had cheated on him.

Each time she tried to breathe, blood spurted from a gash in her throat, where she had been stabbed with a knife and punched by Ramsay.

Officers managed to stem the flow of blood but Ms Donaldson twice went into cardiac arrest.

She was rushed to Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy where she underwent a C-section in a bid to save the twins. However, they did not survive.

Ramsay admitted to police that he had “slit her throat” and when told the baby boy and girl had died he exclaimed: “I’ve murdered my kids. I deserve to die, just kill me now.”

He had spent the day begging on Princes Street in Edinburgh, drinking cider and taking Valium and Xanax tablets. During an interview he claimed to have no recollection of the attack.

The court heard yesterday how Ramsay now denies being responsible for the attack, despite earlier being convicted after entering a guilty plea.

The case had been deferred due to his change in position to allow for new solicitors to represent him.

Newly instructed solicitor advocate John Keenan conceded there was little he could say in mitigation surrounding the circumstances of the crime itself because of his client’s lack of remorse.

However, he said Ramsay had an “unfortunate background and upbringing”.

He said: “He had to cope with the deaths of his mother, brother and sister.

“He was also the subject of a violent assault himself at the age of 17 which really amounted to torture.

“He then turned to intravenous drug use. These are issues which never really seem to have been addressed.”

A risk assessment prepared to aid in sentencing detailed how Ramsay was judged to have an “enduring perpetuity to endanger the public at large”.

The court also heard that since being incarcerated, he had threatened his former partner.

Prosecutor Derick Nelson said although Ms Donaldson did not support a non-harassment order, he felt one was needed to protect her.

He said: “She has a vulnerability and tendency to be influenced by others.

“In December last year, phone calls between the pair were recorded in which the accused threatened her with violence.”

At the request of the Crown, a nonharassment order was made by Lord Kinclaven, meaning Ramsay is barred from attempting to contact his victim.

Stephen Ramsay with Lisa Donaldson earlier in her pregnancy.