Judge rejects knife claim

A thief who lashed out with a knife after a row at a party failed to convince a judge that his victim was also armed.

Steven Gallacher, 22, told the High Court in Edinburgh that he thought Robert Lawrence, 24, had earlier pushed Gallacher’s brother into a mirror.

So Gallacher took a knife from the kitchen in the flat in Westfield Road, Gorgie, and fought Mr Lawrence, leaving him with two knife wounds.

Gallacher admitted assault to the danger of his life but claimed Mr Lawrence also had a knife. Judge Lord Bannatyne rejected his claim..