The ex-partner of a former police officer who tried to murder her and her mother said he subjected her to years of “physical, emotional and practical chaos”.

Former police officer William McBurnie was jailed at the High Court in Livingston on Thursday after admitting attempting to murder Zoe Turnbull and her mother, Beverly, by driving a vehicle past a funeral director’s office in Jedburgh.

Judge Lord Mulholland described the defendant’s deliberate attempt to kill his former partner as “cowardly and selfish”.

He sentenced the 57-year-old to 11 years in prison and also banned him from approaching or contacting Ms Turnbull or her mother for the rest of his life.

Provided

Zoe welcomed McBurnie’s conviction and said in a statement via law firm Digby Brown: “Finally, after two years of physical, emotional and practical chaos, we have justice.

“McBurnie was the Jekyll and Hyde of Jedburgh – charming in public but dangerous behind the scenes.

“I believe the attempt on my life happened because he knew he was losing his grip on me and this extreme act was a twisted and cowardly attempt to control things.

“He was just a powerful monster encroaching on our lives and using violence to achieve his ends.

“This man has shamed himself, the police and his family – objectively, after what he has done, prison is really the only place for him.

“I am grateful to everyone who supported us, from the community to the NHS to the police and prosecutors who put him behind bars.

“My mother and I now hope to put this painful chapter behind us and therefore ask that our privacy be respected as we move forward.

“But in conclusion, I would just like to say to anyone suffering from domestic violence – whether a man or a woman – don’t feel alone, trapped or without options and don’t wait for the worst to happen before you act.

“You have a voice and there are so many people around you ready to listen – and take action – so you can get the help you need. »

The judge said of Ms Turnbull: “She was a fit and healthy woman until this incident.

“Your criminal conduct resulted in a significant deterioration in his health.

“Your criminal conduct has had a significant negative effect on both women and you should be ashamed of what you have done.

“You were a former police officer and you had a criminal conviction for drunk driving. So you knew you shouldn’t drive drunk.

“You turned a mode of transportation, your vehicle, into a deadly weapon and used it to devastating effect. »

“He goes through the window”: video surveillance films attempted murder

The court heard that McBurnie, a former advanced driver and driving instructor with the Police Service of Northern Ireland, had been drinking whiskey since 6am on the day of the attack.

He was almost three times the drink-driving limit when he deliberately accelerated down a side street and drove “at high speed” through a crossing sign towards the Market Street store.

His car climbed the curb, smashed two large flower pots and a glass window, sending shards flying everywhere and hitting the desk so hard that it impaled itself in a back wall.

CCTV footage of the incident shows how McBurnie came close to hitting the two women as they desperately pressed themselves against the side walls of the office.

Digby Brown

As he emerged from the wreckage, the two women were seen in the background kissing outside the store.

Deputy Alex Price Marmion said McBurnie was seen stopping his car at the intersection opposite the store on two occasions in the previous week.

On the day of the attack, he was again seen stopping at the intersection before turning right and leaving after a customer left the funeral home.

Moments later, after driving around a triangle of roads in Jedburgh town centre, Ms Turnbull spotted McBurnie’s car heading straight towards the glass-fronted office.

She shouted to her mother, who stood behind a frosted glass of the front window: “He’s coming.” He’s coming. He goes through the window.

She pressed herself against the side wall of the office when the defendant’s car collided, narrowly missing them.

The defendant, who suffered a burn on his wrist after the car’s airbags were triggered, immediately said: “Sorry. I don’t know what I was thinking.

The depute solicitor said Ms Turnbull, 46, suffered a contusion to her leg and had since been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder following the incident.

She also now suffered from tinnitus, deafness in her right ear and low noise tolerance and had experienced two episodes of cardiac arrest due to ‘broken heart syndrome’, brought on by extreme stress.

Her mother suffered from atrial fibrillation, shortness of breath and fatigue. Both women submitted victim impact statements to the court.

The depute solicitor said the accused had been drinking heavily for several months after his relationship with Ms Turnbull broke down and was behaving in an increasingly alarming manner towards her.

Crown Office

He bombarded her with unwanted text messages, phone calls and emails and repeatedly showed up at her office to beg her to resume their relationship.

Gareth Jones, defending, said McBurnie, who worked as a freelance photographer for a Borders newspaper, had expressed “genuine remorse” for his actions.

He said the accused had only a vague memory of what was going through his mind about Zoe Turnbull at the time of the offence.

However, he admitted his actions had been “completely reckless” and that he had done so with the intention of killing her.

Ms Turnbull said the former police officer “inserted himself into her life” and she found herself trapped in the relationship, fearing for her safety and that of her children if she were to leave.

In a previous statement released through her lawyers Digby Brown, she said: “I never wanted to be in a relationship with him, but when I tried to tell him or defend myself, he would lash out.

“He would grab me and physically and sexually assault me. I was stuck in my own house.

“Behind closed doors he controlled every aspect of my life through his mental and physical abuse, but in public he behaved charmingly towards everyone. It made me sick.

“This man aggressively inserted himself into our lives. He exercised a continuous reign of terror over me and my family.

“I am happy that his true self can now be revealed through this belief – I am now determined to stay strong and take back control of my life.

“As a society, we cannot allow evil and manipulative people like these to impose their harmful will on others.

“I just want to thank the local community for their support over the last 22 months, because knowing you are no longer alone is the key to feeling empowered and able to move forward.”

Crown Office

Moira Orr, head of homicide and major crime at the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, said: “This was an extremely reckless act which could have had devastating consequences without the swift actions of the former partner of William McBurnie.

“Our thoughts and best wishes are with both women as they continue to deal with the lasting trauma caused by this individual.

“McBurnie is a domestic abuser who will now face the consequences of his actions. I hope this conviction reaffirms our commitment to prosecuting crimes of this nature.

“I encourage any victims or witnesses of similar offenses to come forward, report their experiences and seek help. »

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