Man jailed for brutal attack that left clubber with brain damage

By JOHN ROBERTSON
Published on 25/09/2012 14:20

A MAN who carried out a brutal attack after a night out to see an internationally renowned DJ has been jailed for nine years.

Paul St Pierre, 30, caused brain damage to Steven Ferry, 23, in the incident in Edinburgh’s South Bridge in November 2010. He acted with another person in punching and kicking Mr Ferry, and repeatedly stamping on his head.

The victim required psychiatric and rehabilitative treatment but continues to suffer problems with memory and irritability, the High Court in Edinburgh was told.

St Pierre, an IT consultant, of Penicuik, Midlothian, had denied assaulting Mr Ferry, a gardener, to the danger of his life and attempting to murder him, but was found guilty by a jury.

The trial heard both men had been at the City Nightclub in Market Street to see Eddie Halliwell, a successful DJ who used to have his own programme on Radio 1. They were known to each other, but were not friends.

St Pierre claimed he was going to catch a bus home when someone ran into him in snowy conditions and knocked him to the ground. He chased the man to remonstrate and saw it was Mr Ferry.

He said someone took hold of Mr Ferry and another man went with them into the bus shelter and attacked him. He claimed he shouted for the attack to stop but was told it was none of his business.

By a majority verdict, the jury rejected his account, and Lord Pentland told St Pierre: “Witnesses said you played a part in what was described as a violent and sustained assault. Attempted murder is a very grave crime and it is all the more grave when the victim suffers severe and permanent impairment.”