Boy stabbed trying to save mother

Offshore worker Hugh Clark had knifed the woman eight times on the head and body when her son leapt onto his back.

But Clark, 35, of Rosyth, shrugged the youngster off before stabbing him with a black-handled kitchen knife.

Clark admitted attempting to murdering the 33-year-old woman at her home on 2 November 2007. Sentence was deferred.

Clark also admitted assaulting her son to his injury and permanent disfigurement by striking his face with a knife.

"The boy remained in the hallway and jumped onto the accused's back to try to get him to stop what he was doing"
Alex Prentice QC
Advocate depute

The mother and son managed to escape from the house together and arrived bleeding at a neighbour's home.

Advocate depute Alex Prentice QC told the High Court in Edinburgh: "The boy is extremely upset by the incident, not only because he was injured but because his mother was badly injured and he was unable to help her further."

The judge, Lord Brodie, described the case as "the most serious sort of attack, short of killing, that one can imagine".

Mr Prentice said that earlier last year Clark was the subject of "an allegation" made by the woman, which led to him being interviewed by the police. Clark denied the allegation.

On the night of the murder bid Clark had been at a pub in Fife when he saw the woman's husband and asked him to go outside for a fight.

The other man agreed but was stopped by the pub landlady, who also asked Clark to leave the premises.

As he was leaving Clark shouted: "I'm going to murder your wife and I'll get you later."

Stair noise

But the husband did not hear the remark and was not made aware of it in case it inflamed the situation further.

The mother-of-two was with her children at the family home in Fife when she later heard a noise on the stairs.

Clark pulled her out into the hallway and began stabbing her.

Mr Prentice said: "The boy remained in the hallway and jumped onto the accused's back to try to get him to stop what he was doing, as by this time the victim had been stabbed approximately eight times to the head and body."

Clark shook the boy off his back and stabbed him once on the face with the knife.

Defence counsel Michael Anderson said a background report would be required before sentencing.

Lord Brodie said he would continue the case for reports and remanded Clark in custody.

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