Drugs and drink led to brutal stabbing

SHERIFF SENDS KNIFE THUG TO JAIL FOR FIFTEEN MONTHS AFTER JURY REJECTED HIS CLAIMS OF SELF DEFENCE

A MAN who stabbed a friend during a drink and drug-fuelled fishing trip to Loch Awe was sent to prison for 15 months on Monday when he appeared for sentencing at Oban sheriff court.

Robert Edwards, 52, was found guilty by a jury on September 2, to assaulting William McNally, 26, by stabbing him on his body, to his injury and permanent disfigurement.

The altercation happened following an argument between Edwards, of Heriot Avenue, Paisley, William McNally, and his father Samuel McNally, also from Paisley during the early hours of Sunday, April 19.

The three were in a hired van at the time, and had been drinking and smoking cannabis since arriving at Loch Awe on the afternoon of Friday, April 17.

Samuel and William McNally gave similar accounts during the trial of how Edwards began to act strangely during the trip, claiming he was related to the Royal Family.

A row broke out among the three men, when the father and son accused Edwards of tormenting their dog.

Edwards replied that he would stab their dog if it snapped at him again.

As William McNally went to the back of the van to let the dog out, Edwards threw a camping chair at him then stabbed him in the chest with a knife he had been using to peel vegetables the previous day, leaving a wound 2cm deep and 2cm long.

Edwards’ defence lawyer, Edward Thornton, said that, until the recent case, Edwards had not been in trouble with the law for 17 years.

He also said that although Edwards used a knife, he had not been in possession of the weapon

with the intent to cause harm.

Passing sentence on Edwards, Sheriff Ruth Anderson, QC, said: ‘Despite your account of events on April 19, the jury rejected your explanation of self- defence. We also have no explanation as to what happened to the knife or sheath.

‘Had you been an innocent man acting in self- defence, we might have seen the items in court, but they were disposed of before the police arrived and were never found. You threw them away.

‘Also, the reason you had a knife is not the issue here. It is the fact you used it as a weapon, regardless of the reason it was in your possession.

‘This assault I accept was unplanned, but was also unprovoked and resulted in injury and permanent disfigurement.

‘ You were told at trial that the most likely disposal would be custody and I see nothing in your background reports which convinces me it would not be appropriate to deal with this with anything other than prison.

‘Therefore, I sentence you to 15 months’ imprisonment from today’s date.’

It is the fact you used it as a weapon, regardless of the reason it was in your possession

Sheriff Ruth Anderson (on sentencing Robert Edwards, pictured left)