PERPETRATOR JAILED FOR ATTEMPTING TO MURDER GIRLFRIEND BY PUSHING HER OFF DUNKELD BRIDGE
A man named Robert Leggat has been sentenced to nine years in prison for attempting to murder his former partner by pushing her off Dunkeld Bridge at the River Tay.The incident occurred after Leggat struck Hazel Donaldson on the head with an unidentified object and then lifted her legs before shoving her off the bridge.
Ms Donaldson survived but sustained serious injuries from the fall.
The High Court in Edinburgh also banned Leggat from approaching or contacting her for 12 years, and he will be supervised for three years after his release.
Judge Fiona Tait remarked, "It was only good fortune that she landed on the ground and not in the river," emphasizing the terrifying nature of the attack and its ongoing impact on the victim.
Leggat was previously convicted of attacking Ms Donaldson and attempting to murder her in December 2019, during which he grabbed her hair, put an arm around her neck, and pulled her towards the bridge, hitting her with an object and pushing her from the bridge while she was leaning on the wall.
The attack was considered aggravated due to the abuse of a partner and the fact that Leggat was on bail at the time.
His defense argued that he continued to deny responsibility despite the jury's conviction, acknowledging the seriousness of his actions.
The court sentenced him, recognizing the severity of the crime and the ongoing physical and emotional consequences for the victim.
