Victim Secures Compensation After Ex-Policeman's Murder Attempt
A woman has won a significant compensation payout two years after her ex-husband, a former policeman, was sentenced to 11 years in prison for attempting to murder her by driving a car into her funeral home office. William McBurnie pleaded guilty to the attempted murders of Zoe Turnbull and her 71-year-old mother, Beverly Turnbull, in a horrific incident that occurred in Jedburgh, Scotland, in December 2022.
Shocking Footage Captures Cowardly Act
Disturbing CCTV footage from inside Zoe Turnbull's office captured the moment McBurnie, an ex-police officer, ploughed his vehicle at speed through the window of the shop. The attack happened just months after Zoe had ended their relationship, with both women narrowly escaping injury by pressing themselves against the office walls as the car crashed through.
Judge Lord Mulholland, during the 2024 trial at the High Court in Livingston, described McBurnie's actions as a "cowardly and selfish act" and noted he had used his car as a "lethal weapon." The judge warned McBurnie he would be imprisoned for "a very long time" for his crimes.
Civil Case Settled Out of Court
It has now been confirmed that Zoe Turnbull's civil case against her ex-husband has been settled for an undisclosed sum. Mairi Day, a partner at Digby Brown Solicitors who represented Zoe, stated: "What happened to Zoe and her mother was life-changing – they suffered physical and emotional harm that will likely impact them both forever."
Day added: "After everything Zoe has gone through she has understandably requested privacy so I will not discuss the particulars of her civil action other than to confirm the case has now settled. I hope the end of the criminal and civil proceedings means Zoe can finally close this distressing chapter and focus on a positive future."
Victim Describes Reign of Terror
In a statement released through her solicitors following the criminal trial, Zoe Turnbull revealed the controlling nature of her relationship with McBurnie. She said: "I never wanted to be in a relationship with him but when I tried to tell him or stand up for myself he would kick off. I was trapped in my own home."
She continued: "Behind closed doors he was controlling every aspect of my life yet in public he would act charming to everyone. It made me feel sick. That man aggressively inserted himself into our lives. He exerted a continuous reign of terror on me and my family."
Ex-Policeman's Background and Remorse
McBurnie, who had worked as a police officer in Belfast before relocating to Scotland, was employed as a freelance press photographer in the Scottish Borders at the time of the attack. His solicitor stated that the ex-cop had expressed "genuine remorse" for his actions, though he claimed to have only a vague recollection of his mindset during the shocking crime.
The settlement marks the conclusion of both criminal and civil proceedings against McBurnie, providing some measure of closure for Zoe Turnbull and her mother after their terrifying ordeal.
