The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Knifeman attacked victim giving CPR to collapsed friend
Athug repeatedly struck a man in the head with a knife as he desperately tried to save his unresponsive friend’s life.
Dean MacLennan was drinking with a group of people including James Williams and Barry Dyker at an address on Seaton Walk, Aberdeen, before the incident happened.
During the evening, Mr Dyker, 45, became unresponsive and Mr Williams frantically tried to revive him.
But as he was on the ground carrying out chest compressions, he felt a blow to the top of his head and turned to see MacLennan standing over him with a knife.
MacLennan, 30, repeatedly struck Mr Williams with the knife until the blade snapped.
Mr Dyker, who Mr Williams had been trying to save, died. Police later established there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death.
Fiscal depute Jane Spark told Aberdeen Sheriff Court MacLennan arrived at the address and joined the group drinking around 2pm on August 28 last year.
Ms Spark said: “The witnesses were of the opinion the accused was already under the influence of alcohol.
“Shortly after the accused’s arrival, the complainer went to sleep in one of the bedrooms.”
Around 8.30pm, Mr Williams was woken by the sound of others screaming and shouting for help from the living room.
He rushed through and observed Mr Dyker on the sofa. Mr Williams moved Mr Dyker on to the floor and began cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
Ms Spark told the court MacLennan was then heard to say: “Whatever happened to Barry happened to Barry. It’s his own fault.”
Mr Williams took exception to this and MacLennan was asked to leave, replying: “I’m gonna need a big boy to get me out of this house.”
Ms Spark said: “While on the ground providing chest compressions, the complainer felt something strike him to the head.
“The complainer looked up to see the accused standing over him.
“The accused then struck the complainer twice to the left side of his head and then immediately felt blood trickle down the back of his head and neck.
“The complainer then felt a further strike to his head and realised at this point the accused was using a knife.
“The complainer then saw the blade of the knife snap and fall to the ground.”
MacLennan then began punching and kicking Mr Williams’ head, causing him to fall to the ground.
When Mr Williams got back to his feet, the pair struggled and he managed to push MacLennan away.
Eventually, MacLennan left and was traced by police and found to have blood on his clothing.
He was arrested and, while being booked into custody, unleashed a torrent of homophobic and threatening abuse towards the officers.
Mr Williams was not traced until August 30 but had “visible injuries to his head”.
He was taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary where he was found to have suffered a fracture to his jaw as well as injuries to his nose, right shoulder blade and the top of his head.
MacLennan, a prisoner at HMP Grampian, pled guilty to assault to severe injury and danger of life and behaving in a threatening or abusive manner.
Defence agent David Sutherland said his client had known Mr Dyker for “many, many years”, but stressed his death was “nothing to do with my client whatsoever”.
The solicitor said MacLennan also suffered injuries in the course of what witnesses called a “fight” between the two men.
Mr Sutherland said a court-ordered social work report concluded with a “polite request” that MacLennan be given a community sentence instead of imprisonment.
Sheriff Ian Duguid KC told MacLennan: “I have viewed what’s described as a ‘polite request’ by the social worker to impose a community payback order.
“The use of a knife cannot be marked without a period of imprisonment.”
He ordered MacLennan to be jailed for two years, backdated to August 31 and imposed a 12month supervised release order.