A man set fire to his lover's house because he felt he was "insensitive" about his deceased mother. Dean McTaggart set it ablaze, causing 43-year-old Amanda Richards and her young child to jump to safety from her first-floor window.
A 31-year-old man was sitting outside smoking while a fire tore the building apart. A large fire last September on Islay, in the interior of the Hebrides, severely damaged buildings,theHigh Court of Glasgowheard.
His first-time offender, MacTaggart, faces a lengthy prison sentence after pleading guilty Thursday to trying to murder both Richards and a child, a former restaurant supervisor next month. I am going to be judged.
Richards and McTaggart lived together in an apartment on the grounds of the Dan Rossitt mansion on Islay. The couple got into an argument on a flaming night.
Prosecutor David Dickson said he began using a "catchphrase" that MacTaggart saw on a TV show. This refers to someone's "mother", which MacTaggart found "funny". He repeated it to Mr. Richards, causing an argument.
Mr Dixon said: "Her mother is dead and the date of the crime was her 60th birthday, so she felt McTaggart was insensitive to her. It looked like."
The couple reached the bedroom and McTaggart punched her in the face. Before he leaves the room, she realizes he has a knife.
Mr. Dixon said Mr. Richards pushed a drawer and bed behind the door in a petrified state, and he barricaded himself and the child there.
She later told police: to take me and my child out. ''
Mr. Richards threw his clothes and bedding on the ground in an attempt to stop him from falling. The women then performed a 4-meter leap, followed by the youth.
As the fire spread, both men were able to call their neighbors for help. Meanwhile, McTaggart was found in his underpants by a property manager outside.
I heard him hold his head and say, "I'm sorry." Defense attorneys told the court that it took the fire brigade eight hours to extinguish the blaze. said he got it.
He added that he was half-drinking beer and whiskey that night. . "I can't believe what I did last night. I'm still shocked by everything," McTaggart, who was found injured, told police.
He agreed that what he had done was "bad and dangerous". David Taylor defended himself, saying McTaggart's actions "looked completely drunk". added that they were planning to move away from Islay. Lord Beckett took him into custody and deferred sentencing for reporting.
The cost of repairs and the impact on Mr. Richards was not disclosed to the court. However, just days after the fire, her online crowdfunding call was launched to raise her £1,500 to help her.
She later commented on Facebook: Please be close to everyone.
Don't miss the latest news from Scotland and beyond - sign up for our daily newsletter here .
Read more:
