"Sleepwalk" murder bid man in prison

1. April 2011 last updated at 13: 33 GMT stabbed Eileen Docherty was a taxi driver, who claimed that he was sleepwalking when he his wife stabbed to death for six years was imprisoned by John Docherty was.

John Docherty attacked 56 year-old Eileen at their home in Penilee, Glasgow, in December 2009, leaving them permanently drawn.

The 57-year-old made a special defense claimed that he of somnambulism was acting in bad faith during the start.

A panel of judges him guilty of attempted murder after a week-long trial at the High Court in Glasgow.

The attack happened on 14 December 2009 in Bowfield Crescent home of the couple.

Marriage problem

The Court heard how Docherty had not even for a number of weeks before the incident.

He thought his wife of 37 years saw another man and began her cell phone and check text messages.

The father of two joined her at work during one of her shifts, the Court is one weekend.

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while you have a history of sleepwalking, you were not when you committed this terrible crime sleepwalking "

end quote John Beckett QC judge the couple finally sought medical help and their GP later known gave it a marriage problem."

On the eve of the attack went an evening Docherty and his wife up with friends.

They returned to their homes at midnight and Mrs Docherty went to bed leaving her husband in the ground floor.

Prosecutors said that in a drunken and jealous rage he handle a kitchen knife and his wife attacked.

The Court of Docherty's heard 999 call in which he claimed it had a fight. He said his wife had him said she had been with his friend.

Mrs. Docherty suffered a number of wounds on her face, neck and hands. A doctor said they were potentially life-threatening.

She told the trial that she or her husband, adding of loved: "I know in fact that he was asleep." "There is no way he knowingly would have done."

Special defence

Docherty - had made a history of sleepwalking-, a unique special defense claimed that he had no memory of the incident, although accepted he had caused the injuries.

He was also, that there no bad feeling between himself and his wife.

However, sleep expert Professor Colin Espie the Court was told it highly unlikely Docherty had sleeping at the time.

Detention the taxi driver, Judge John Beckett QC Docherty said: "you killed your wife almost, but, during your time on remand in custody, she in prison, has almost every day and forgave you."

"While you have a history of sleepwalking, you were not sleepwalking when you committed this terrible crime."

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