A former police officer has been sentenced to jail for attempted murder after ramming his car into a funeral parlour, narrowly missing his ex-girlfriend and her mother. William McBurnie, 57, pleaded guilty to attempting to kill Zoe Turnbull, 46, and her 71-year-old mother, Beverly Turnbull, at the High Court in Livingston. The incident took place on December 7, 2022, in Jedburgh, Scottish Borders, leaving Zoe Turnbull with injuries including hearing loss, back, and leg injuries. McBurnie received a 13-year extended sentence with 11 years in jail during the sentencing on Thursday.
The court heard that McBurnie, a former police officer, had consumed a third of a litre of whisky before driving his car into town on the day of the collision. After his ex-partner spotted him near her business, she expressed concern to her mother, who advised her to lock the door. McBurnie then made a U-turn, accelerated through a junction, mounted the pavement, crashed through planters, and drove his vehicle into the funeral parlour’s office. The victims had to press themselves against walls to avoid being hit by the car.
Following the incident, McBurnie climbed out of the wreckage and apologised, stating he didn’t know what he was thinking. He had been struggling to cope with the end of the relationship and had been sending unwanted messages to his ex-partner, some of which were threatening and abusive. The court was informed that McBurnie had sent hundreds of communications between June and December 2022. Non-harassment orders were issued to prevent him from contacting the victims, and he was also disqualified from driving for 16-and-a-half years.
Moira Orr from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service described the act as extremely reckless and praised the victims for their swift actions that prevented more severe consequences. She urged other victims or witnesses of similar crimes to come forward and seek support. The sentencing reaffirms the commitment to prosecuting such offences, showing that domestic abuse will not be tolerated. The victims continue to deal with the lasting trauma caused by the incident.