Glassed On A Girls’ night Out
She might be sorry but she still had to be held to account MY NIGHT ENDED WITH A GASH IN THE HEAD...
someone I knew well, we just said hello sometimes if we were in the same place. But kissing? No way!
I had a boyfriend at the time myself, which made it even more shocking an accusation.
Katsande could have killed me, all because of what she thought she saw.
As they put staples on my wound, the clock ticked round to 8am.
Exhausted from staying up all night and still in shock, I was allowed home.
There, as I rested, Katsande’s friend sent me a message on Facebook, saying sorry. The girl... feels really bad, the friend wrote. She genuinely thought you were someone else and she’s going through a lot... I hope you’re alright. Alright? Alright?! No, I was not alright.
My hair was matted with blood, as
I couldn’t even wash it yet.
I felt so gross.
I’m a forgiving person, but it was hard to think straight as I knew how much worse this could’ve been.
What if the glass had actually smashed?
What if she’d hit me full in the face? It didn’t bear thinking about. And just because I was the wrong person, it didn’t make what she did OK.
Later that day, I phoned the police to report what had happened, and two days later Ashley Katsande was arrested.
She might be sorry but she still had to be held to account for what she did.
While we waited for the court case, I felt constantly nervous.
I’d be looking over my shoulder every time I went to the shops, a cafe or bar.
Court case
This April, Ashley Katsande, 23, pleaded guilty at Edinburgh Sheriff Court. It was her third conviction for assault.
Katsande is due to be sentenced next month. Meanwhile, I’m moving on, staying strong. I’ve been out clubbing again, found the strength to enjoy myself. And best of all, I got that job. So I’m working hard there, too. A case of mistaken identity could have cost me my life. But it didn’t – so I’m living it to the full and, eventually, I’m hoping to make my dreams come true as a model.