High Court hears Inverness man almost killed in violent attack after asking a group to leave his house
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The victim suffered numerous injuries including multiple fractures to his head.
The High Court in Inverness heard that Gary Paterson returned to his upstairs flat in Miller Street, Inverness on March 5 last year to find two men and two women had been drinking inside.
One of them was 22-year-old William Williamson, now 23, who appeared before Lord Harrower and admitted attempting to murder Mr Paterson by assaulting him to his severe injury, permanent disfigurement and permanent impairment to the danger of his life by repeatedly punching and kicking him to the head and body.
Mr Paterson required life-saving surgery due to massive blood loss from multiple fractures to his head – cuts so deep they were through to the bone and a ruptured eye.
Part of the skin on his cheek was ripped off and two arteries had to be repaired to stop the bleeding.
Advocate depute John Keenan told the judge that Mr Paterson’s face now suffers from paralysis, his vision is impaired, his eyelid is disfigured and he has permanent scarring as well as no feeling in an ear.
Mr Keenan said: “Police found him lying unconscious on the floor, in a pool of blood from severe head injuries that were life-threatening. He required to be resuscitated in hospital.”
The prosecutor added that witnesses in the property were unclear as to exactly what happened, due to intoxication.
“But it was extremely violent and sustained,” he went on.
The court heard that Mr Paterson, who lived alone in temporary accommodation, had been away for a couple of days.
Mr Keenan said that neighbours had heard a party going on from the day before.
“An argument ensued about Williamson and the others still being there and that seems to have resulted in the offence,” he said.
“Neighbours heard shouting and a female saying ‘get off him, you will hurt him' and police were called.
“Williamson was traced and his clothing was covered in blood. Officers then found Mr Paterson.”
Defence advocate for Williamson, an Inverness man described as an Inverness prisoner, asked for a background report to be prepared on his client.
He said: “Given his criminal record, the court could proceed to sentence today. But he lost his father a couple of years ago, and his sister last year. Also he was still only 22 when the offence took place.”
Lord Harrower agreed and Williamson will be sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow on February 15.
He was again remanded in custody.
