Dundee man hacked off disabled woman’s hand ‘after Barack Obama told him to take crystal meth’
By Wilma Riley - The Scottish Sun
A MAN chopped off the right hand of a wheelchair-bound stranger minutes after offering to make her a cup of tea.
The High Court in Glasgow heard that 34-year-old Stephen Brisbane left his 64-year-old victim Sandra McGowan lying unconscious on her bedroom floor, picked up her hand and put it in a carrier bag.
He then headed back to his mother's home in Dundee and placed the severed hand in her freezer.
Minutes later it was discovered in one of the freezer drawers by his sister who phoned the police.
Victim Miss McGowan, who was in a wheelchair after suffering a stroke 14 years ago which left the left side of her body paralysed, let Brisbane into her home using a remote key fob after he knocked her door at 4.15am.
Prosecutor Richard Goddard said: “She believed it was later and believed it was her carer who usually arrived first thing in the morning.
Wheelcair-bound Miss McGowan can no longer feed or shop for herself
“She used a remote controlled electronic key fob to open the door as she lay in bed.
“The accused walked up, gave her a cuddle, told her his name was Stephen and offered to make her a cup of tea.”
Miss McGowan could hear cupboards opening and closing in the kitchen and moved herself into her wheelchair and found the accused looking in her freezer.
Brisbane left the flat briefly, then re-entered using the key fob, which he had taken with him, and took a knife from her kitchen.
Miss McGowan had her back to Brisbane and he grabbed her. There was a brief struggle and she fell from her wheelchair.
Mr Goddard said: “As she fell her right arm was raised and Brisbane seized her right wrist. She saw he had a knife in his hand. He then started to cut her right wrist and she lost consciousness.
“Around two hours later she regained consciousness and saw her right hand was gone.”
The Court heard that she tried to get up from the floor by putting her feet under the bed, but was only able to get to a seated position. She called for help, but no one heard her cries.
When her carer and a district nurse arrived they were unable to get into the house and called the police. They forced their way into the bungalow and found Miss McGowan in her bedroom. She was covered in blood and so was the room.
A seven-hour operation to try to reattach the hand was performed, without success.
Mr Goddard said: “She was previously able to feed herself, shop for herself, live by herself and enjoy independence. She routinely attended clubs and met friends. She is now unable to do any of these things unassisted. She is now in a care home and requires 24-hour assistance.”
Brisbane admitted entering Ms McGowan’s home in South Road, Dundee, on February 14, 2018 and assaulting her to her severe injury, permanent disfigurement, permanent impairment and to the danger of her life.
The court heard that Brisbane was taken to Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, on February 13, 2018, after overdosing in the street.
He discharged himself at 2.15am the next day.
Judge Johanna Johnston told Brisbane: “You have accepted your responsibility for an horrific attack on a very vulnerable woman. It has had a very deep effect on the woman. She is now reliant on others.”
Brisbane was found fit to plead.
Psychiatrist Dr Stuart Doig believes that Brisbane has a personality disorder and is of the opinion that any abnormal mental state at the time of the offence was more likely the consequence of drugs rather than a mental disorder.
Defence QC Mark Stewart said: “He has expressed deep sorrow and remorse for the injuries caused to this lady. He is extremely sorry for this.”
Mr Stewart added: “He thought he was suffering from a serious illness and said he had been advised by Barack Obama to take crystal meth. He had been told it was the cure for his illness and could be extracted from the bones of human beings.”
Judge Johnston deferred sentence on Brisbane until next month and ordered a risk assessment to be carried out into the risk he poses to the public.
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