Park crossbow attacker jailed for 10 years

The attack happened in an Aberdeen park

A 53-year-old who shot a man in the stomach with a crossbow in an Aberdeen park has been jailed for 10 years for attempted murder.

Alan Bruce had grabbed the weapon and chased Richard Murison who had knocked on his door in the middle of the night.

He caught up with him at Eric Hendrie Park and shot him with a crossbow bolt, leaving him severely injured, then left the scene without checking whether he needed an ambulance.

Mr Muriuson, 44, needed surgery for a punctured gall bladder and spent several days in hospital, following the incident in November 2023. Lord Renucci jailed Bruce at the High Court in Glasgow, after telling him only a significant custodial sentence was appropriate.

The earlier trial had heard how Bruce had told Mr Murison: "You are going to regret this."

Mr Murison said: "I heard a sound like a gust of wind and then a pain in my tummy. I fell down to my knees."

Mr Murison later told police he believed he was going to die.

His attacker was found guilty after a trial at the High Court in Aberdeen.

Defence advocate John Brannigan said Bruce had a long-standing issue with drugs which had blighted his life.

Lord Renucci said: "You decided to leave your house armed with a loaded crossbow, chased after your victim and deliberately shot him with that crossbow.

"It's more by luck than judgment that you are not being sentenced today for murder rather than attempted murder.

"After that you simply turned round and went back to your house, leaving your victim. Even though you were unsure of his injuries you did not call an ambulance."

'Extremely dangerous'

He added that the writer of a background report said he had now expressed some remorse.

"It's clear that drugs played a part in this offence and unless you address your drug problems it's not likely this will be the last sentence you receive," the judge said.

He committed the attempted murder while on bail.

The judge said that six months of the 10-year sentence was due to that aggravation.

Bruce was also convicted of having a stun gun disguised as a torch.

He was sentenced to five years for that other offence, with the sentences to run concurrently.

Det Insp Gavin Fleming, of Police Scotland, said: "Carrying and using offensive weapons is extremely dangerous and it is fortunate that on this occasion the victim didn't lose his life.

"Violent crime has no place in our communities and I hope this sentence sends a clear message that those who commit such offences will be robustly dealt with."