Gunman who pulled trigger three times in failed murder bid facing life sentence
A gunman who pulled the trigger three times in a murder bid but failed to fire a bullet was warned he could face a life sentence today (Wed 16th March).
A gunman who pulled the trigger three times in a murder bid but failed to fire a bullet was warned he could face a life sentence today (Wed 16th March).
Lee Connors pointed a handgun at his victim's face and tried to discharge the weapon before fleeing from the scene.
When police later recovered the revolver they found that there were three bullets in the six chambers of the gun. The weapon was found to be capable of firing but was erratic.
A judge said: "This case is about as near to murder as you can possibly get - pointing a loaded revolver at someone's head and trying to fire."
Lord Uist ruled that a risk assessment order should be made on Connors which can result in the imposition of an Order for Lifelong Restriction (OLR).
Under an OLR the court sets a minimum period of imprisonment to be served by the offender but any future potential release is left to the parole authorities.
Lord Uist told Connors that a report would be prepared "as to what risk your being at liberty presents to the safety of the public at large".
The judge pointed out that Connors had recently pled guilty to possession of a prohibited weapon, another revolver, in Tranent, in East Lothian, in 2014.
A woman who also had the gun pointed at her by Connors during the murder bid earlier told his trial: "He pulled the trigger three times."
She said: "I heard the clicks. Click, click, click." She added: "I can still hear the clicking in my head today."
Connors, 30, also known as Hunter, had denied attempting to murder the man on October 25 in 2014 at Barn Park, in Edinburgh, by presenting the revolver at him and attempting to discharge it.
Lord Uist deferred sentence on Connors until June for the preparation of the risk assessment report on him.