Pensioner jailed for axe murder attempt

A pensioner has been jailed for nine years after trying to murder his daughter’s former partner in an axe attack in Aberdeen.

John Quantrell, 65, smashed a car window with the weapon before repeatedly striking Christopher Willett, who was in a passenger seat, with the hatchet.

Quantrell had earlier denied attempting to murder Mr Willett, 36, on 11 September, 2017 at Mansfield Road and Sinclair Road.

But a jury found him guilty of the murder bid, while acting with another, by approaching the car Mr Willett was in, smashing the window resulting on glass hitting the victim and then repeatedly striking him on the head and body to his severe injury, permanent disfigurement and to the danger of his life.

A judge told Quantrell: “It is clear, on the evidence, you had a deep animosity towards Christopher Willett.” Lord Clark said at the High Court in Edinburgh yesterday: “You struck him four times with the axe. One blow was to his head.”

The judge told Quantrell, who has previous convictions for dishonesty, public disorder, assault and robbery: “There is no alternative to a substantial custodial sentence.”

The judge ordered Quantrell should be kept under supervision for a further two-year period. Mr Willett had a relationship with Quantrell’s daughter up to 2015.