September 9th 2024.
Coming up next, we have a shocking incident that has left many people stunned and horrified. A former police officer, William McBurnie, drove his car through the window of his ex-partner's funeral business in what can only be described as a deliberate attempt to kill her and her mother. CCTV footage captured the terrifying moment when McBurnie's vehicle crashed through the shop front, narrowly missing Zoe Turnbull, 46, and Beverley Turnbull, 71. It's a miracle that they both survived, but they were not left unscathed. Miss Turnbull suffered from hearing loss and post-traumatic stress disorder, while her mother sustained injuries as well.
Today, at the High Court in Livingston, McBurnie pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted murder. Judge Lord Mulholland did not mince his words as he described the attack, which took place in the Scottish Borders town of Jedburgh in December 2022, as a cowardly and selfish act. He made it clear that McBurnie would be facing a very long time in prison for his actions.
According to reports, McBurnie had been drinking heavily since 6am on the day of the incident. The former advanced driver and driving instructor with the Police Service of Northern Ireland was almost three times over the legal alcohol limit. He deliberately accelerated along a nearby street and drove at high speed towards the shop, ignoring a give way sign. His car mounted the pavement, crashed through two flower planters, and smashed through the plate glass window, causing glass to shatter and injuring the office desk.
As seen in the CCTV footage, McBurnie came dangerously close to hitting both women as they desperately tried to protect themselves by pressing against the side walls of the office. After the crash, the two women were seen hugging each other outside the shop, while McBurnie climbed out of the wreckage. It was later revealed in court that he had been seen stopping his car at the junction opposite the shop on two occasions the previous week. On the day of the attack, he was observed pausing before turning right and driving off after a customer left the undertakers.
Miss Turnbull, who had been keeping an eye out for McBurnie, spotted his car speeding towards the glass-fronted office. She immediately warned her mother, who was standing behind a frosted glass panel of the front window, of the impending danger. The two of them managed to avoid being hit by the car, but Miss Turnbull suffered a bruised leg and was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. She also developed tinnitus and deafness in her right ear, and had a low tolerance for noise. Her mother experienced atrial fibrillation, breathlessness, and fatigue, and both women submitted victim impact statements to the court.
It was revealed that McBurnie had been drinking heavily for several months following the end of his relationship with Miss Turnbull, and his behavior towards her had become increasingly alarming. He bombarded her with unwanted messages and repeatedly showed up at her office, begging her to take him back. His lawyer, Gareth Jones, stated that McBurnie expressed genuine remorse for his actions and only had a vague recollection of what he was thinking at the time of the incident. However, he acknowledged that his actions were reckless and that he had intended to kill Miss Turnbull.
The court has called for background reports and adjourned the case until September 19, where a decision will be made. McBurnie has been remanded in custody until then. This incident serves as a reminder of the devastating consequences of reckless and dangerous behavior, and the impact it can have on innocent lives.
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