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Watch: Ex-policeman crashes into funeral home in attempt to murder ex-partner
A former police officer from Northern Ireland has admitted driving his car through the window of a funeral home in the Borders injuring his ex-girlfriend and her mother.
William McBurnie, 57, pleaded guilty to attempted murder at the High Court in Livingston.
McBurnie had been drunk behind the wheel of his car when he smashed through the glass window front narrowly missing Zoe Turnbull, 46, and her mother Beverley, 71, inside.
The court heard that McBurnie had been struggling to come to terms with the end of the relationship and that he had said he had been drinking heavily for four months.
Both Zoe Turnbull and her mother Beverley Turnbull narrowly escaped serious injury.
McBurnie had served as an officer with the Police Service of Northern Ireland and was an advanced driver.
Digby Brown
Zoe Turnbull said she had been "trapped" in a relationship with McBurnie for about two years
He had been working as a photographer with a local newspaper in the Borders while he was in a two-year relationship with Zoe Turnbull, however that ended in June 2022.
The court was shown CCTV footage from inside the funeral directors in Jedburgh that was run by Zoe Turnbull.
McBurnie got out of the car with a slight hand injury and said: "Sorry, I don’t know what I was thinking".
On the day of the attack in December 2022 McBurnie had been been drinking since 06:00 and was nearly three times the legal limit.
The judge Lord Mulholland told McBurnie to expect a lengthy prison sentence for what he described as a cowardly and wickedly reckless act.
Ms Turnbull said in a statement that she had been "trapped" in an abusive relationship with McBurnie for about two years.
"I'm glad his true self can now be revealed as a result of this conviction – I'm now determined to stay strong and take back control of my life," she said.
"We as a society can't let evil, manipulative people like this be allowed to inflict their harmful will on others.
"I just want to thank the local community for their support over the last 22 months because knowing you're no longer alone is key to feeling empowered and being able to move forwards."
English (US) ·