Attacker left uncle with brain damage

Published on 04/10/2012 12:31

A MAN whose kicks and stamps left his uncle with 
“catastrophic” brain damage has been jailed for eight years.

A court heard that William Johnston, 47, was expected to remain in a “persistent vegetative state” for the rest of his life.

Sentencing Steven McMahon, 32, at the High Court in Edinburgh, judge Lord Brodie told him: “This is a case where you showed extreme violence which has had catastrophic results.”

The father-of-six, from Restalrig Avenue, denied a charge of attempted murder, claiming he was acting in self- defence.

He told police that his uncle had threatened to kill him and dump his body before murdering his wife and children. He also claimed his uncle had grabbed his pony-tail as they argued in the street.

A jury rejected McMahon’s claim and found him guilty of a reduced charge of assaulting Mr Johnston to the danger of his life in Calton Road, on August 16 last year.

Lord Brodie said: “The verdict shows you did not intend to kill William Johnston but what you did deprived him of conscious life. ”