Lawyer has flashbacks of moment he was stabbed in attempted murder at Glasgow office

A lawyer who survived being stabbed in the chest by his client says he still has flashbacks of the moment he feared he was going to die.

Muhammad Shoaib was attacked by Esayas Neguse at his office in Glasgow’s southside.

Neguse, from Eritrea, was jailed for 11 years for Mr Shoaib’s attempted murder at the High Court in Glasgow on Tuesday.

He also pleaded guilty to five other charges, including assaulting Mr Shoaib’s colleagues, having a knife in a public place, behaving in a threatening manner, and spitting on a police officer.

Lord Colbeck said various factors indicated a “high degree of culpability” on the part of Neguse, who was freed early from a previous 12-month jail-term and has a total of 11 previous convictions.

Neguse changed his plea during the trial after Mr Shoaib relived his life-threatening ordeal in testimony to jurors and CCTV of the attack was shown in court.

Esaya Neguse attacked Muhammad Shoaib at MS Solicitors in Glasgow's Southside on September 21, 2022 — Esaya Neguse attacked Muhammad Shoaib at MS Solicitors in Glasgow’s Southside on September 21, 2022 Crown Office

He admitted to the attempted murder along with the other charges.

Mr Shoaib, a former Alba party council election candidate, still works at the desk in the small office in Victoria Road where he was attacked almost two years ago.

But the lawyer says he now locks the door whenever he finds himself alone.

After three decades of practising criminal and immigration law, the 71-year-old is considering retirement and is looking for another solicitor to take over his role.

As his attacker was jailed at the High Court in Glasgow on Tuesday, he was at work in the city’s sheriff court representing another client.

“My life has changed since the attack, I thought I am going to die,” Mr Shoaib told STV News.

“It happened so suddenly I couldn’t even shout. I have flashbacks and have had panic attacks. I wake up in the night some times, thinking someone is attacking me.”

Neguse had initially approached Mr Shoaib at court and seeking representation as he was unhappy with his previous lawyer. The pair had only held two prior meetings about an assault charge Neguse was facing.

When Neguse turned up unannounced on September 21, 2022, Mr Shoaib agreed to see his new client.

After leading him into his office, Mr Shoaib had expected Neguse to take the seat opposite him but when he looked up from his notes, he found his client standing right next to him.

“I was taken aback, surprised,” Mr Shoaib said.

“He only asked me one question: ‘Are you OK Muhammad?’ He suddenly took his hand out of his jacket and started hitting me. The knife went through my hand. He then attacked again. I felt the knife penetrate my chest.

Mr Shoaib remembers Neguse mumbling to himself.

He added: “I stood up and I thought, ‘God has given me so much courage at that time’, as my hands were bleeding and blood was pouring from my chest like a shower.

“I managed to get a hold of his right hand where he had a knife and then I shouted to my secretary.”

CCTV footage shows how Mr Shoaib’s colleagues were headbutted and bitten by Neguse as they tried to overpower him.

Staff managed to alert two passing police officers and it took four people in total to restrain the 37-year-old.

Mr Shoaib was unaware at the time of the extent of his new client’s previous offending. But after reading the file about the alleged assault Neguse was facing, he said he had concerns about his client’s mental health and felt something was not right.

Mr Shoaib said: “The day he (Neguse) turned up without an appointment, I was going to tell him that I had arranged a psychiatrist to go through his medical records and see if we can take a special defence to see if he was well enough to realise what he has done.”

Neguse’s defence advocate said he had originally travelled to the UK for “sanctuary…looking forward to his life” with his wife and child, but they both drowned. He said this had had a significant impact on his psyche.

“To be honest, I feel sorry for Neguse,” said Mr Shoaib.

Mr Shoaib is still recovering from the attack. The nerves in his hand were damaged but the lawyer hopes to regain power.

His surgeon told him he was very lucky to survive being attacked as the blow to his chest was just a hair’s breadth from his lung.

Detective inspector Phill Kennedy of Cathcart CID, said: “This was a horrific attack which took place at the victim’s place of work.

“No one should be the subject of such violence at their workplace and I would commend the actions of other staff members prior to police arriving.

“They put their own safety at risk to intervene and prevent further injury to their colleague.

“Their bravery stands in stark contrast to the cowardly and violent actions of Esayas Neguse, who will rightly now face the consequences.”

Moira Orr, who leads on homicide and major crime for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, said: “This was a shocking attack on a lawyer who was going about his everyday business working for the benefit of his clients.

“Had it not been for the brave intervention of his colleagues, this attack could have had tragic repercussions. And it is only right that we acknowledge their heroic actions.

“Esayas Neguse has been convicted and sentenced for a terrible crime and will now spend a lengthy time in prison as a result of his criminal behaviour.”

Lord Colbeck ordered Neguse be supervised for a further five years on his release.

He was further made subject of a non-harassment order banning him from approaching or contacting Mr Shoaib as well going near any office of MS Solicitors.