A man who tried to kill his own lawyer in a knife attack has been jailed for 11 years.
Esayas Neguse attacked Muhammad Shoaib with a kitchen knife and stabbed him in the chest in his own office. The 37-year-old had appeared unannounced at the solicitor’s law firm and was tackled by two of Mr Shoaib’s colleagues, who were also assaulted.
Police officers spotted the struggle in Govanhill and rushed to help stop the attack on the 71-year-old on September 21, 2022. Mr Shoaib suffered a stab wound to the chest and to his right hand in the attack, which he feared would be fatal and he was kept in the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital overnight.
Neguse had denied attempted murder and two charges of assault to injury during a trial at the High Court in Glasgow, according to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS). He then changed his plea to guilty during the trial after Mr Shoaib relived his life-threatening ordeal in front of a jury.
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The court heard that Neguse “appeared unhappy and agitated and kept his hand in the right pocket of his jacket”, and produced a kitchen knife from his jacket within seconds of being ushered into Mr Shoaib’s office, and launched the attack.
Two of his colleagues then heard Mr Shoaib’s shouts for help and ran in to confront the knifeman.
They attempted to disarm Neguse while wrestling him out of the office and into the reception area as Mr Shoaib called 999.
The struggle was seen by police officers in a passing van, who apprehended Neguse and found Mr Shoaib bleeding, with a considerable amount of blood on his office floor.
Neguse 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.
He was jailed for 11 years, and was also served with an indefinite non-harassment order.
Moira Orr, who leads on homicide and major crime for the COPFS, 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 – 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.”
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.”
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