A killer was out on bail when he stamped on a woman’s head in savage attack in Fife.
Michael Williamson, who was briefly taken to cells after falling asleep in the dock on Thursday, had been released on a police undertaking when he was filmed stamping on Julianna Cuthill’s head in a children’s playpark.
Dundee Sheriff Court was shown shocking footage of the 43-year-old punching and kicking Ms Cuthill on the body, before stamping on her head in broad daylight.
The court heard how a horrified resident started filming the incident on their mobile phone after hearing Ms Cuthill’s screams during the sustained daytime attack.
Williamson – who fatally stabbed a former girlfriend in 2001 – set about Ms Cuthill because he was upset she wanted to spend time with another woman.
Savage attack
Fiscal depute Gavin Burton told the court: “He was on bail and a police undertaking.
“Julianna Cuthill was an associate of the accused.
“She was in the company of the accused and another woman.
“All three were at his home consuming alcohol.
“At 8.30pm the complainer and the other woman left to go to the basketball courts.
“He followed. She told him to f**k off as she wanted to drink alone with the other person.
“The accused punched her in the face and tripped her up.
“He stamped on her head and body and kicked her on the body.
“A witness overheard a female screaming.
“They saw the accused punching her face and kicking her body.
“They recorded this with their mobile phone then went to intervene and contacted police.
“Officers traced Ms Cuthill with injuries to her face and hand.”
Sleepy in the dock
Williamson, from Markinch, admitted acting with another by attacking and injuring Ms Cuthill, 33, in Kinloss Park, Cupar, on June 16 last year.
Sheriff Paul Brown noted he had been held on remand for a considerable period and imposed a 140-day curfew and a drug treatment and testing order.
The sheriff said: “I am giving you an opportunity here. The only way I see I can give you an opportunity is because you spent a considerable period on remand.”
He was in the process of sentencing Williamson, when he stopped and asked: “Are you falling asleep there?
“I will remand you in custody meantime.”
Williamson was taken to the court cells for an hour after the sheriff said it was clear he was “under the influence of something”.
He was brought back when he was “fully able to engage in court proceedings”.
Killer
In 2001, Williamson was jailed for seven years after stabbing his then partner Sarah-Jane Morgan during a row at an address in Kirkcaldy’s Farne Court, with the Crown accepting a plea to the reduced charge of culpable homicide.
On that occasion, the High Court in Edinburgh heard Miss Morgan had tried to hit Williamson with a machete because he had been talking about a former girlfriend in his sleep and Williamson stabbed her with a knife during the struggle.
The wound penetrated her heart and she died in hospital, despite attempts by surgeons to save her life.
