A Dunfermline man who stabbed his victim in the abdomen was told he was “extraordinarily fortunate” not to be facing a murder charge.
Lee Hutton, 32, of Townhill Road, pierced Robert Morgan’s liver and damaged an artery, causing internal bleeding.
Mr Morgan also sustained an 8cm cut to his head and further wounds to his arm and torso during a fight in Oakley. One of the stab wounds required 25 staples.
Sheriff Charles Macnair said of Hutton: “He chose to get involved in a fight and more importantly he chose to take a knife to that fight and he chose to use it.
“He’s extraordinarily fortunate that he’s not facing a charge of murder.”
Hutton was remanded in custody and will be sentenced on October 11.
He admitted that on January 24 at John Stuart Gait, Oakley, he assaulted Mr Morgan by repeatedly punching him on the head and repeatedly striking him on the head and body with a knife, all to his severe injury, permanent disfigurement and to the danger of his life.
Depute fiscal Ron Hay told Dunfermline Sheriff Court: “Mr Morgan sustained a stab wound to his abdomen which penetrated his liver and nicked his stomach.
“An artery was also hit which caused internal bleeding which required to be drained.”
Hutton also suffered injuries including a broken ankle, which required surgery.
Mr Hay said Mr Morgan had previously been in a relationship with a woman who had gone on to have a relationship with Hutton.
The woman had described Hutton as being “jealous” of her having any contact with her previous partner.
At 1.20am residents in the area became aware of the sound of two males arguing in the street, initially shouting at each other.
A neighbour then saw the two men begin punching each other, back off, then start punching each other again.
Towards the end of the fight, Mr Morgan was seen to punch Hutton several times and then grab his head, striking it against the ground.
After the two men separated, a neighbour heard Mr Morgan say: “You stabbed me, you b******”.
Another witness heard Hutton say: “You’ve got your blood on me.”
He then said to the victim: “You better sit down.”
Mr Morgan said to a local resident who came outside: “He stabbed me. You’ll have to help me.”
The neighbour placed a towel on the victim’s stomach and called 999.
