Man jailed for stabbing ex in front of daughter in street attack

A man has been jailed for seven-and-a-half years for the attempted murder of his estranged wife in front of their child on an Edinburgh street.

Osarenkhoe Atutie admitted the attack on Duke Street, Leith, last November - where he hugged his daughter before repeatedly stabbing his wife.

The High Court in Edinburgh head that Victory Atutie, 30, sustained 12 injuries including scarring to her face and a collapsed lung.

Lord Cubie said it had been a "sustained attack" on a "defenceless victim" and also banned Atutie, 26, from contacting her for life.

The couple had married in Nigeria about four years before the attack and moved to London where the child was born.

But following a breakdown in their relationship, the wife and daughter moved to Edinburgh where Atutie tracked them down.

The judge said this indicated "a degree of foresight" to the attack.

Lord Cubie added: "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 police arrived. They are to be commended.

"The victim's daily life, her sense of security and overall wellbeing have been fundamentally affected."

The court heard that on the day of the attack, Victory Atutie and her daughter - in a pram - were going to a GP surgery when the girl called out "Daddy, daddy."

Victory saw her estranged husband and immediately panicked. He told her that he had a knife and that she should follow him.

Atutie grabbed his wife's hair and began to stab her on the head and body, before three men who witnessed the attack came to her aid.

The assault left her in hospital for four days.

Atutie was arrested and later told police: "I am sorry things have got like this."

Jonny Campbell, defending, said: "He recognises, but for the intervention of members of the public, the consequences for the victim may likely have been fatal.

"He was struggling with his mental health at the time, but that does not justify his actions.

"In the victim impact statement there is a high level of empathy, which is to her credit and which Mr Atutie does not necessarily deserve."

Police Scotland thanked the members of the public who came to Victory Atutie's aid.

Det Sgt Craig McMillan said: "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."

Atutie's jail term was cut from 10 years due to his guilty plea. He will also be supervised for a further 18 months on his release.