Caithness Knife Attacker Faces Life Sentence
A Caithness women who attacked her friend with a carving knife was told she could face a life sentence today.
A woman who carried out an attack armed with an electric carving knife was told she could face a life sentence today.
Acacia Morgan attacked her friend in bed with the makeshift weapon after hearing voices, a court heard.
A judge at the High Court in Edinburgh said that a risk assessment order should be made on Morgan (51) which can lead to the making of an Order for Lifelong Restriction.
Nigel Morrison QC said he considered based on the information before him that the risk criteria may be met in Morgan's case.
Morgan previously admitted attacking Joanne Campbell on December 13 last year by striking her with the knife on the neck to her injury and permanent disfigurement in the house at High Street, Keiss, in Caithness.
But following her plea at Wick Sheriff Court she was sent to the High Court for sentencing.
Morgan phoned police after the assault saying she had been trying to cut her friend's throat. She saw all the blood and realised what she had done and got a towel for the injury.
Defence counsel Edith Forrest argued that Morgan could be dealt with by an extended sentence, where a period of imprisonment is followed by supervision after her release.
The counsel said she had met Morgan in Cornton Vale women's prison and she told her that she “had not felt better in her life”.
Morgan put that down to a significant increase in her medication for depressive and anxiety disorders.
Miss Forrest said Morgan had no record for violence and treatments were available to her in jail.
She said she had spoken about the "voices in her head" and had expressed profound guilt and empathy towards the victim.
Advocate depute Steven Borthwick acknowledged that the offence was “an isolated incident” but pointed out that she had indicated to a social worker preparing a report on her concern that she may commit further harm to persons other than the victim of the attack if at liberty.
He pointed out that Morgan had been assessed as sane and fit to plead.
The judge deferred sentence on Morgan until August and she was detained in custody following the hearing.