Man, 26, who repeatedly stabbed ex-partner in front of daughter on Edinburgh street jailed

A 26-year-old man has been sentenced after he pled guilty to violently attacking his former partner in Leith.

Osarenkhoe Atutie, 26, previously pled guilty to the violent offence and was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison for the attempted murder at the High Court in Glasgow on Wednesday, 5 August.

Autie stabbed Victory Atutie – leaving her with 12 separate injuries – on Duke Street in the Leith area of Edinburgh on November 11 last year.

Atutie approached Ms Atutie and stabbed her repeatedly to her head and body with a knife. She was taken to hospital where she was found to have suffered a collapsed lung.

The attack was ended when three bystanders ran over and held Atutie on the ground until the emergency services arrived.

Lord Cubie sentenced Atutie to a nine-year extended sentence when he appeared at the High Court in Glasgow on Wednesday, comprising seven-and-a-half years in custody and 18 months of supervision on licence upon release.

Lord Cubie described the incident as a “sustained attack” on Ms Atutie and paid tribute to passers-by who detained Atutie.

The judge said: “She could have died as a result of your actions. It is through a combination of luck and the intervention of three passers-by that she survived.

“They disarmed you and held you till police arrived and they are to be commended.”

Osarenkhoe Atutie has been sentenced for a violent attack on his ex-partner | Supplied

The attacked happened in front of Atutie’s daughter – with Lord Cubie telling him that he had “a limited appreciation of the long-term effects this will have on your partner and child.”

He imposed a non-harassment order of indefinite duration on Atutie, banning him from approaching, contacting or attempting to contact Ms Atutie.

The couple had married in Nigeria before coming to the UK where they had a daughter and initially lived in London. Following a breakdown in the relationship, Ms Autie moved to Edinburgh with the child.

Ms Autie was taking her daughter to a doctor’s appointment when they were approached by Autie. She “immediately panicked” – believing him to still be in London.

The court heard Atutie came up to them and lifted the cover of the buggy before giving his daughter a hug.

He then told Ms Atutie: “I brought a knife, I will show you.”

Giving an account of the incident at the hearing last month, prosecutor Catriona MacLeod said Ms Atutie then continued walking, with Atutie alongside her.

“The accused was angry, she was scared because she knew he was going to hurt her,” Ms MacLeod said.

At one point, Ms Atutie tried to get the attention of a man standing nearby, shouting: “He’s going to hurt me, he’s going to hurt me.”

However, the man did not act, telling police afterwards Atutie had seemed “calm”.

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Ms MacLeod said Atutie then attacked Ms Atutie, telling the court he “grabbed her hair and repeatedly stabbed her in the head and body”.

The knife was described as having a silver blade and being “around 10cm” in length.

Following the attack, Ms Atutie was taken to hospital where as well as a collapsed lung she was found to have a haemothorax – fluid in the chest cavity – which the court heard was potentially fatal.

She was discharged four days later, and although she made a full recovery she has been left with scarring at the site of her injuries.

At the hearing on Wednesday, defence advocate Jonny Campbell, representing Atutie, said: “He was struggling with his mental health at the time of the incident. That does not of course justify his actions.

“He has no previous convictions and he will now have a significant period of reflection to try and understand why he acted in this way towards someone with whom had had been in a long standing relationship.”

He also said there is a significant chance Atutie will be deported.

Detective Sergeant Craig McMillan said: “This was a particularly harrowing incident, and my thoughts are with the victim and her family.

“I’d like to thank those members of the public who came to the victim’s aid during the ordeal. Without their intervention and assistance, there is a high chance that the victim would not have survived the attack.

“Tackling violence against women and girls is one of Police Scotland’s highest priorities and we continue to work with partners to achieve this.

“Violence in any form and the possession of weapons in any environment has no place in Scotland and is entirely unacceptable. Tackling the harmful effects of violent crime, which has a devastating impact on individuals, families and our communities, and supporting victims, remains a priority for our officers.”