45 months jail, for disembowelling man

A Scottish woman, Jade Parker, has been jailed today after she was found guilty of disembowelling a man.

The incident happened after a row over a broken window, when Ms Parker lashed out at the man.

On the surface this meagre sentence sounds so paltry, so what is the story behind this incident?

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The 40-year-old man, Anthony McMahon, had been known to Jade since she was around seven years old, she, even calling him Uncle Tony. On the night of October 18 Jade and her boyfriend wanted Mr McMahon to leave them alone. He had different ideas and broke a window of the woman's home.

In the ensuing argument Parker threatened McMahon but he appeared to feel it was all a bluff. "Go on then" he said to Jade. In the event she lashed out with a pink knife. The resulting wound splashed Mr McMahon's bowels out of his stomach. By the time emergency services arrived Ms Parker was fighting to save his life.

The Midlothian court accepted that she appeared truly repentant and contrite. The judge however told Jade that it was a serious offence. Earlier she had pleaded guilty to attempted murder. Alcohol and possibly drugs had played a part in the incident. Both the victim and the attacker are known to have had a drink problem.

45 months still sounds a lean sentence, to this writer, for such an attack. Disembowelled for breaking a window? Whatever next.