Sorrow of man whose mistake almost claimed his friend’s life

A man is to pay £1,000 compensation to one of his closest friends after almost causing his death in what Perth Sheriff Court heard was “a sad and unfortunate” incident.

Kale Summers had been helping Liam Beauchape celebrate his birthday with a few drinks only for the day to end in near tragedy.

Perth Sheriff Court heard Mr Beauchape had been troubled by mental health problems and during the evening had urged witnesses to cut him with a knife.

While others refused, Summers said he would do it and unwisely swung a knife in the direction of a sofa on which his friend was sitting.

Prosecutors accepted there had been no intention to actually wound Mr Beauchape, but at the last moment he moved his leg and was cut.

The knife perforated skin, muscle, artery and vein and was found to have severed the femoral artery – the leg’s main artery.

Mr Beauchape’s wound was so severe that blood began to pump from it uncontrollably, putting his life in jeopardy.

He only survived because of the life-saving aid offered by the horrified Summers and another witness as they waited for an ambulance to arrive.

Summers, 36, of Melville Street in Perth, admitted culpably and recklessly aiming a knife at a sofa on which Mr Beauchape was sitting, whereby he was struck by the knife to his severe injury, permanent disfigurement and to the danger of his life on August 7.

A sheriff accepted Summers’ “genuine remorse”.

In addition to paying the compensation order, he will have to undertake 300 hours of unpaid work.