A man who stabbed his neighbour in the stomach and then shouted “If you mess with me, I will always win” has been jailed.
Frank Marr was seen walking along Huntly’s Scott Drive topless with two knives tucked into his trousers just moments before he stabbed the man in his garden.
The brutal attack was the culmination of a series of confrontations between the pair on the afternoon of June 27 2020.
Fiscal depute Dylan Middleton told Aberdeen Sheriff Court that Marr, 44, had paid three visits to the man’s property in the space of half an hour.
“The accused was topless and had two knives tucked into the back of his trouser waistband,” he said.
“He was seen to walk over to the complainer’s home on Scott Court and knock on the window.
“Words were exchanged between them before a physical altercation took place. The accused left but approximately 10 minutes later he returned and again knocked on the window.
“The complainer came out again and there was another physical altercation between the two men. The accused left and the complainer went back inside.
“Ten minutes later the accused returned once more. The complainer came back out and another argument and altercation ensued.
“A nearby witness then heard the sound of something metallic fall to the ground. The accused then bent own and picked up what the witness could now see was a knife.
“At this stage the complainer was backing off towards his door.
“The accused lunged at the complainer and repeatedly struck him with the knife.
“He was heard to shout ‘If you mess with me, I will always win’, or words to that effect.”
Had blood-stained knife and torso
Shortly afterwards Marr was seen on the nearby Scott Drive carrying the bloodstained knife.
The court heard that when police arrived at the victim’s house they found him with a puncture wound to his stomach as well as injuries to the back of his neck, his forearm and hand.
He was taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary where scans showed the stabbing had penetrated his liver but he was in a stable condition.
He later told police he “didn’t want any more involvement with this and did not wish to comment on the circumstances”.
He did, however, tell officers that Marr was responsible for his injuries.
The man has since passed away, for reasons unconnected to the incident.
‘He won’t be doing that again’
When police picked up Marr, who was still bloodstained, he told officers: “I stabbed him, I did, I stabbed him.
“He tried to slash me with a knife so I plugged him with it. I don’t give a f***.
“He assaulted me first so it’s self-defence.
“He won’t be doing that again and I’m telling you that.”
Marr was originally charged with attempted murder.
Marr was bullied as a child
Defence agent Shahid Latif said what happened between the pair was “in no way one-way traffic”.
He said that his client had been bullied as a child and had a troubled upbringing which in time had a lasting legacy of low self-esteem, mental health issues and the use of intoxicants.
“In the weeks leading up to this matter, he noticed that his mental health was deteriorating and he tried to get help but was unable to do so. He relied on intoxicants instead,” he said.
“Once this matter appeared in the public domain he stopped his use of intoxicants, ceased drinking alcohol and tackled his drug issue.
“He has found other ways of dealing with his mental health.
“The complainer has since passed away but what happened that day was in no way one-way traffic.”
Marr, who appeared in court via videolink from HMP Grampian, admitted a charge of assault to severe injury and permanent disfigurement and another of being in possession of a knife.
Sheriff Ian Wallace told him: “This is a serious offence. The dangers of knives are obvious and well recognised by the courts.
“You attacked your victim with a knife and only a custodial sentence is appropriate.”
He jailed Marr for 30 months and ordered him to be under the supervision of social workers upon his release for one year.
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