Attacker had not taken his medication

Published on Saturday 6 June 2009 11:34

A SCHIZOPHRENIC who randomly attacked two pensioners within minutes of each other in the Capital had failed to take his medication before carrying out the assaults, a court has heard.

Robert Murphy slashed 82-year-old Frank McGeachie across the face with a Stanley knife, leaving him with a six-inch scar.

Minutes earlier, Murphy had hit 79-year-old Elizabeth Essien in the face as she walked along the same street, Easter Road in Edinburgh.

Murphy, 39, had bought the knife from a nearby B&Q and was later traced using CCTV footage from the store.

It emerged yesterday that Murphy had "disengaged" from his medical treatment and had binged on alcohol before the offences in February.

He pled guilty to the assaults at Edinburgh Sheriff Court last month and was detained in the Royal Edinburgh Hospital for psychiatric treatment.

He was due to be sentenced yesterday but Sheriff Kathrine Mackie said she wanted to ensure Murphy was stable on new medication first, and put off sentencing him until next month.