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Man stabbed as children watched | Man stabbed as children watched |
(about 7 hours later) | |
A woman has been jailed for three years and four months for stabbing a man in front of children in Arbroath. | A woman has been jailed for three years and four months for stabbing a man in front of children in Arbroath. |
Laurie Falconer, 21, attacked her victim near a play park after telling him: "I don't care if I stab you in front of all these bairns." | Laurie Falconer, 21, attacked her victim near a play park after telling him: "I don't care if I stab you in front of all these bairns." |
Falconer, who is a policewoman's daughter, repeatedly wounded Joseph Duffy on 7 July, weeks after receiving a fiscal fine for another assault. | Falconer, who is a policewoman's daughter, repeatedly wounded Joseph Duffy on 7 July, weeks after receiving a fiscal fine for another assault. |
She then apologised to a woman in the park with her grandchild for swearing. | She then apologised to a woman in the park with her grandchild for swearing. |
Falconer, also known as Moore, earlier admitted assaulting Mr Duffy to his severe injury, permanent disfigurement and to the danger of his life. | Falconer, also known as Moore, earlier admitted assaulting Mr Duffy to his severe injury, permanent disfigurement and to the danger of his life. |
The High Court in Edinburgh was told that the evening before the attack Falconer had taken valium tablets. | |
Mr Duffy had left the house in the afternoon because they had been arguing, but as he walked along a pathway towards Parkview Gardens, Arbroath, he heard her shouting after him. | Mr Duffy had left the house in the afternoon because they had been arguing, but as he walked along a pathway towards Parkview Gardens, Arbroath, he heard her shouting after him. |
You did this in front of children and not far from a children's play area Lord Menzies | You did this in front of children and not far from a children's play area Lord Menzies |
Falconer then returned to the house, picked up a large kitchen knife and walked towards him shouting, "I'll do it." | Falconer then returned to the house, picked up a large kitchen knife and walked towards him shouting, "I'll do it." |
She ran past the busy children's play area and stabbed him in the back, elbow and the chest. | She ran past the busy children's play area and stabbed him in the back, elbow and the chest. |
About eight children, all aged between eight and 13 years old, witnessed the assault to varying degrees. | About eight children, all aged between eight and 13 years old, witnessed the assault to varying degrees. |
Falconer went back home with the knife, washed it, then hid it beneath the floorboards of another house. | Falconer went back home with the knife, washed it, then hid it beneath the floorboards of another house. |
When police arrived Falconer told officers: "He did not think I would do it. He will get it again when he gets out." | When police arrived Falconer told officers: "He did not think I would do it. He will get it again when he gets out." |
Mr Duffy was taken to Dundee's Ninewells hospital where the chest wound was found to have caused a punctured lung. | Mr Duffy was taken to Dundee's Ninewells hospital where the chest wound was found to have caused a punctured lung. |
A doctor said the injury would have been life threatening if he had not received medical attention. | A doctor said the injury would have been life threatening if he had not received medical attention. |
Drug addiction | Drug addiction |
Lord Menzies told Falconer that she had committed a very serious assault. He said: "What is worse it involved an element of premeditation. | Lord Menzies told Falconer that she had committed a very serious assault. He said: "What is worse it involved an element of premeditation. |
"What also, in my view, makes it worse is that you did this in front of children and not far from a children's play area." | "What also, in my view, makes it worse is that you did this in front of children and not far from a children's play area." |
The judge said he would have jailed her for five years for the offence, but her sentence would be reduced to take account of her guilty plea. | The judge said he would have jailed her for five years for the offence, but her sentence would be reduced to take account of her guilty plea. |
Lord Menzies was earlier told that Falconer had several previous convictions and had been jailed before. | Lord Menzies was earlier told that Falconer had several previous convictions and had been jailed before. |
However, an earlier assault was disposed of on 21 May under the controversial fiscal fine system, which diverts offenders away from court. | However, an earlier assault was disposed of on 21 May under the controversial fiscal fine system, which diverts offenders away from court. |
Defence counsel Gavin Anderson said that Falconer came from a respectable background but had been gripped by drug addiction. | Defence counsel Gavin Anderson said that Falconer came from a respectable background but had been gripped by drug addiction. |
She started taking cannabis aged 11 and had moved on to taking heroin by the time she was 17, although she was not using the Class A drug at the time of the offence. | She started taking cannabis aged 11 and had moved on to taking heroin by the time she was 17, although she was not using the Class A drug at the time of the offence. |
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