Man jailed for attempted murder after hit-and-run attack
A man who intentionally drove a vehicle into a pedestrian in a hit-and-run incident has been sentenced to six years and eight months in prison.
Lewis Burns, aged 31, collided with Michael McKenzie on Lochend Drive in the Lochend area of Edinburgh on 3 February.
Burns drove directly towards McKenzie, who was propelled onto the bonnet of the car before falling onto the pavement. Burns then returned and struck McKenzie again while he was injured and lying on the road.
Burns pleaded guilty to assaulting McKenzie causing severe injury, permanent disfigurement, impairment, and endangering his life, as well as attempting to murder him.
At the High Court in Edinburgh, a judge informed Burns that he had admitted to using his car as a weapon to strike McKenzie twice.
Lady Haldane said: "Using your car in this way was a murderous attack with serious, potentially life-threatening consequences for the complainer."
She further stated that if sentencing Burns following a trial, she would have imposed a 10-year prison sentence.
"It is undoubtedly and extremely serious offence," Lady Haldane added.
The judge also disqualified Burns from driving for eight years and four months.
Incident details
The court heard that McKenzie was returning home from meeting a friend at a pub when the attack occurred.
Advocate depute Scott McKenzie explained that McKenzie was walking to a bus stop when he heard shouting and observed a woman with blood on her face arguing with Burns.
The prosecutor said McKenzie did not know either Burns or the woman but believed the woman was injured and told Burns not to hit her, which led to a brief altercation between McKenzie and Burns.
He stated:
"While McKenzie was walking away he heard a car engine revving behind him. He turned to see a white car mount the pavement and drive straight towards him."
A witness reported that the Skoda Octavia driven by Burns was traveling at speed towards McKenzie, who had no time to evade the vehicle.
The court heard that McKenzie was struck on the side of his legs, thrown onto the car's bonnet, and then fell onto the pavement.
The prosecutor added that McKenzie attempted to stand but collapsed in the middle of the road. Burns then drove around a nearby roundabout and returned towards him.
"He tried to roll towards a parked car to get out of the way but the accused drove at him and struck him again,"the prosecutor said.
"The vehicle came to a stop and Mr McKenzie was unable to move while the car was over the top of him."
Injuries and arrest
McKenzie called a friend who rushed to the scene and found him with one leg bent at an unnatural angle and experiencing extreme pain.
He was transported to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, where he was diagnosed with limb fractures and subsequently underwent surgery.
Burns was apprehended by police in Bonnyrigg, Midlothian, on 11 February and taken into custody.
Legal proceedings and defense
Defence counsel Kenneth Cloggie acknowledged that a custodial sentence was unavoidable.
He stated that Burns accepted full responsibility for the incident but emphasized:
"He did not go out with the intention of causing harm."
Cloggie added that Burns recognized he had made "a bad decision" and accepted that he must face the consequences.
