Accused chef cleared of knifing man at house party

Zachary Shannon, 37, had denied attempting to murder 21-year-old Joe Graham by stabbing him in the neck at a party in Livingston in September last year. But Mr Shannon, 37, walked free from the High Court in Livingston after Judge Lord Jones ruled that there was insufficient evidence to convict him of the blade attack.

The victim suffered brain injury and stroke as a result of near fatal loss of blood after the main artery in his neck was sliced open. The court was told he will suffer permanent problems of mental and physical impairment.

Witnesses suggested that Mr Graham – who was brandishing a kitchen knife before he got involved in a struggle with the accused – may have stabbed himself.

The decision to abandon the case came after defence counsel Paul Nelson argued that the Crown’s advocate depute, Morag Jack, had failed to prove the charge against his client.