Thug who chopped off woman's hand faces life sentence
Court hears of gruesome attack on terrified wheelchair user
A THUG who chopped off the hand of a wheelchair bound stranger is challenging a risk assessment which could see him facing a life sentence.
Stephen Brisbane carried out the gruesome attack on Sandra McGowan at her flat in Dundee in February 2018.
Brisbane left the stricken 64 year-old lying unconscious on the floor – before taking her severed right hand and putting it in his mum's freezer.
The 34 year-old later claimed he struck after being had been advised by ex-US president Barack Obama to take the drug crystal meth.
Judge Johanna Johnston viewed the crime which she described as 'demonstrating extreme violence” as so serious she ordered a report on the danger Brisbane poses to the public.
He is objecting to this risk assessment and now a second one has been ordered.
Judge Johnston said: “There has been an objection to the risk assessment report and now the defence will instruct their own report.”
The case will call again on November 5 at the High Court in Glasgow.
Serial criminal Brisbane earlier pled guilty to assaulting Miss McGowan to her severe injury, permanent disfigurement and impairment and to the danger of her life.
If Judge Johnston decides that Brisbane is a serious risk to the public he could be given an Order for Lifelong Restriction, which is similar to a life sentence.
Wheelchair-bound Miss McGowan was paralysed down her left side following a stroke 14 years ago.
She let Brisbane into her home in after believing it was her carer.
He gave her a cuddle and made her a cup of tea, before turning violent, grabbing her wrist and cutting through it with a knife.
She fainted and woke up around two hours later to find her right hand gone.
Brisbane's shocked sister later found the hand in her mother's freezer and phoned the police.
A seven-hour operation to try to reattach the hand was unsuccessful.
Miss McGowan – who had enjoyed her independence – now needs 24-hour care