A FORMER Fermanagh man who tried to kill his ex-partner by smashing a car through the window of a funeral directors has been described as "the Jekyll and Hyde of Jedburgh".

Zoe Turnball and her mother, Beverly, were inside the premises in the Scottish town when the incident happened on December 7, 2022. 

William McBurnie, 57, admitted driving the car at them “at speed” through the window of Zoe Turnbull Funeral Directors in Market Place, forcing the women to take evasive action to avoid being hit by the vehicle driven by the former police officer, who was drunk at the time.

McBurnie, originally from Co. Fermanagh, was handed a 13-year extended sentence comprising 11-years in custody and two years of supervision on his release at the High Court in Livingston last week. 

Speaking after the sentencing, Ms. Turnball said the outcome has brought her justice.  
 
"Finally, after two years of physical, emotional and practical chaos, we have justice," she said, in a statement via law firm Digby Brown. 

"McBurnie was the Jekyll and Hyde of Jedburgh - charming in public but dangerous behind the scenes. 

“I believe the attempt on my life happened because he knew he was losing his grip on me and this extreme act was some warped and cowardly attempt to control things."

She continued: “He was just a forceful monster who encroached on our lives and used violence to get his own way.

"That man has shamed himself, the police service and his family - objectively, after what he did, jail really is the only place for him.

"I am grateful to everyone who supported us from the community to the NHS to the police and prosecutors who put him behind bars."

Following the successful sentencing, Ms. Turnball has urged anyone who is suffering from domestic abuse to come forward. 

"As a final note I'd just like to say to anyone suffering from domestic abuse - whether man or woman - please do not feel like you are alone, or trapped or have no options and please don't wait for the worst to happen before acting. 

"You have a voice and there are so many people around you ready to listen - and act – so you can get the help you need."

During the sentencing hearing last week, Livingston court heard how the former Fermanagh resident McBurnie had woken up at 6am on the day of the collision, and drank whisky before driving into town to complete an errand. 

His former partner later saw him sitting at the junction opposite her funeral director business and expressed concern to her mother, who suggested she lock the door.  

McBurnie drove away but turned around using the one-way system.  

He then accelerated at speed over a give way junction before mounting the pavement, crashing through two large flower planters and into the glass fronted office.  

As his vehicle approached, his former partner was standing beside her desk while her mother had gone towards the office door, which had frosted glass. 

The complainer noticed the car approaching and yelled at her mother: “He’s coming, he’s coming, he’s coming through the window.” 

She turned away from the oncoming vehicle and pinned herself against the wall of the office.  

The car narrowly missed the women, who were both injured as a result, with one being hit by debris. 

The office desk was hit with such force that it was embedded in the back wall.  

McBurnie, who sustained a minor friction burn on his wrist, was heard to then say: “Sorry, I don’t know what I was thinking.” 

While waiting for officers to attend, he stated that he had been struggling to come to terms with the end of the relationship and had been drinking heavily.  

The court also heard how he had sent regular, unwanted messages to his former partner using a variety of platforms in the months leading up to the attempted murder.  

He would tell her how much he missed her and that he wanted to reconcile the relationship.  

When intoxicated, the messages would become unpleasant, angry, abusive and were, on occasions, threatening, the court heard.  

Between June and December 2022, McBurnie sent his former partner hundreds of communications. 

Moira Orr, who leads on homicide and major crime for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, said: “This was an extremely reckless act which could have had devastating consequences had it not been for the swift actions of William McBurnie’s former partner. 

“Our thoughts and best wishes remain with both women as they continue to deal with the lasting trauma caused by this individual.”