Man jailed for 11 years for attempted murder of his lawyer

A man who tried to kill his lawyer in his office has been sentenced to 11 years in jail.

Esaya Neguse, 37, attacked Muhammad Shoaib, 71, at MS Solicitors in Glasgow's southside in September 2022.

Mr Shoaib survived being stabbed in the chest after two colleagues intervened, tackling Neguse to the ground before passing police saw the struggle.

At the time of the attack, Neguse had recently been released early from a 12-month jail term for being threatening and abusive towards police officers. He also had 11 previous convictions.

Neguse was sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow.

He had previously pled not guilty to the charge of attempted murder but changed his plea after the court heard Mr Shoaib's testimony and viewed CCTV footage.

Lord Colbeck said Neguse attempted to murder a solicitor representing his interests, with a weapon he was carrying with the "intention of assaulting him".

He added: "In my assessment, these factors are redolent of a high degree of culpability."

The court previously heard how Neguse turned up unannounced at the office in the city's Victoria Road and Mr Shoaib agreed to see him.

Mr Shoaib said Neguse was invited into his office where he took out a kitchen knife.

He told jurors: "He started attacking towards my neck, then for a second time on my chest. I had to put my hand out to stop him.

"The blood was coming out my chest. It was like a shower of blood.

"I thought I was going to die. The whole floor was filled up with my blood. I was panicking."

'Remorse'

The lawyer then shouted for colleagues to help him and managed to call 999.

The court was shown CCTV footage of the accused headbutting and biting the lawyer's colleagues Muhammed Ibrahim and Amin Syed before they dragged him out onto the street to attract the attention of police stopped at traffic lights.

Neguse eventually let go of the weapon which had a blade of up to six inches.

The court heard Mr Shoaib suffered a stab wound to his chest and was able to leave hospital after treatment.

Mr Shoaib was formerly an Alba party council election candidate in 2022 for the city's Pollokshields ward.

Former first minister and Alba party leader Alex Salmond said at the time that he was "deeply upset with news of the attack".

Defending, Herbert Kerrigan KC said Neguse - originally from Eritrea in East Africa - had pled guilty to five other charges and expressed "very clearly remorse for what he had done".

The court heard how Neguse had struggled with mental health issues and originally travelled to the UK for "sanctuary...looking forward to his life" with his wife and child, but they both tragically drowned.

Lord Colbeck ordered Neguse be supervised for a further five years on his release.

He was further made subject of a non-harassment order banning him from approaching or contacting Mr Shoaib as well going near any office of MS Solicitors.