Man who tried to kill estranged wife on Edinburgh street in front of daughter jailed

A man who tried to kill his estranged wife on the street in Edinburgh in front of their young daughter has been jailed for seven and a half years.

Osarenkhoe Atutie repeatedly stabbed the victim during the attack in Leith, having tracked her to the capital last November.

The woman, who suffered a string of injuries including permanent scarring and a collapsed lung, was only rescued when three men witnessed the assault and raced to her aid.

Atutie was sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow.

The 26-year-old had earlier pled guilty at a hearing in Edinburgh to an attempted murder charge.

The court heard how the couple had been married in Nigeria for around four years before the attack.

They then initially lived in London before the mum and their child moved north to Edinburgh after a breakdown in the relationship.

On the day of the attack, they were heading to a doctor’s surgery when the youngster called out “daddy”.

The woman told the child he was not there and did not think anything of it.

But, prosecutor Catriona MacLeod said the mum then saw Atutie and immediately panicked.

He walked over, gave the child a hug and told his former partner: “I brought a knife. I will show you.”

Atutie ordered her to follow him and not get help.

The court heard she was left petrified and feared she was going to be hurt.

At one point, the woman 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”.

Atutie grabbed the victim by the hair and then struck her repeatedly with a knife on the head and body.

The men who raced to help the victim managed to hold the attacker

After being arrested, Atutie stated: “I am sorry things have got like this.”

The woman remained in hospital for four days, having suffered 12 injuries and needing a chest drain.

Lord Cubie told him: “There was a degree of foresight in that you came from London to be in the same city as your wife and child.

“You perpetrated a sustained attack involving repeated use of a knife on a defenceless victim.

“She could have died. It was plainly through a combination of luck and the intervention of passers-by that she survived.

“They bravely disarmed you and held you until the police arrived. They are to be commended.

“The victim’s daily life, her sense of security and overall well-being have been fundamentally affected.”

The jail term was cut from ten years due to the guilty plea.

Atutie will also be supervised for a further 18 months on his release.

Lord Cubie also banned the attacker from approaching or contacting his estranged wife for life.

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.”