A repeat criminal has been found guilty of slashing a rival’s throat in a murder bid in Arbroath.
Steven Clarke, 42, used a blade attached to a multitool to inflict a 10cm wound across David West’s neck close to a main artery during the attack on January 13 2023.
Clarke claimed he acted in self-defence by punching Mr West, who had a history of epilepsy, before trying to “help him” by repeatedly slapping him.
He also insisted that Mr West already had the neck wound by the time he encountered him on Lindsay Street.
Jurors at the High Court in Dundee, however, saw through Clarke’s sketchy version of events and convicted him of attempted murder by a unanimous verdict.
‘Raging’ victim
Clarke gave evidence in his own defence and claimed Mr West, who he knew for three years, came towards him “in a rage” with a closed fist.
“I thought he was going to try and punch me,” Clarke told the court.
“I defended myself and I did strike him, yes, with my hand. He fell back, fell on the ground.
“There was something not quite right looking at him.
“When he’s hit the ground I noticed he had blood all over him.”
A teenage couple feared Mr West would be killed after watching Clarke slap him “more than 30 times”.
Clarke was sitting on top of Mr West while he rained down blows as he drifted in and out of consciousness.
The couple rushed to the nearby Arbroath police station for help before an officer pulled Clarke off Mr West.
Clarke’s DNA was discovered on the handle of the multitool.
He told defence solicitor advocate Richard Souter it did not belong to him and he had simply moved it away from Mr West.
Throat slash denials
In earlier evidence, the couple claimed Clarke shouted: “If you tell the police, I’ll slit your throat” as well as hearing him reference money.
Mr West was discovered with two black eyes along with other superficial cuts in addition to the neck wound.
Advocate depute Brian Bell, in cross-examination, asked Clarke: “Did you not make a call for an ambulance?”
Clarke replied: “I was trying to help him and I didn’t realise the blood was so bad.
“If I had help, I would have done that.”
Mr Bell said: “All you were doing was slapping him. The reason you never phoned for an ambulance Mr Clarke is that you were assaulting Mr West, correct?
“You did try to kill him. You cut his throat.”
Clarke responded: “I did not, no.”
Guilty
Medical evidence previously disclosed Mr West did not require follow-up treatment and was quickly discharged from Ninewells Hospital after the injury was glued.
Clarke, of Arbroath’s Brechin Road, was found guilty of assaulting Mr West to his severe injury, to the danger of life and attempting to murder him.
Following the verdict, Mr Bell disclosed Clarke, who has been jailed in the past, had multiple previous convictions for assault and possessing weapons.
Judge Lord Renucci remanded Clarke in custody after calling for background report.
He will be sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh next month.
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