Woman, 45, jailed for killing friend

A WOMAN who snapped after suffering years of physical and sexual abuse, but killed one of the few men to show her any kindness, has been jailed for five years and ten months.

Melanie Stevenson, 45, was in a deluded state, reliving some of the abuse in her mind, when she lashed out at Robert Brereton, 47, and inflicted 26 stab wounds.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard she was heartbroken at what she had done.

Mr Brereton’s family condemned the term as “far too short”.

Stevenson was charged with murdering Mr Brereton, from Bonnybridge, Stirlingshire, following his death in her home in Forfar, Angus.

However, psychiatrists reported that she had “an abnormality of mind” at the time, and the charge was reduced, because of diminished responsibility, to culpable homicide. She admitted the offence.