Man tried to murder Good Samaritan who went to aid of woman he thought was injured

A driver tried to murder a Good Samaritan by striking him twice with his car after the victim went to the aid of a woman he believed had been injured in Edinburgh.

Lewis Burns drove at the man and hit him with a Skoda Octavia before returning and striking him again with the vehicle as he lay injured on a road.

Burns, 31, admitted assaulting his victim to his severe injury, permanent disfigurement, impairment and to the danger of his life and attempting to murder him on February 3 at Lochend Drive.

At the High Court in Edinburgh on Thursday, the judge said that although he has a criminal record she would call for a background report to be prepared on Burns, ahead of sentencing, as he has never previously served a prison sentence.

Lady Haldane told him: “You should be under no illusions. This is an extremely serious matter to which you have pled and a significant custodial sentence is inevitable.”

The court heard that the victim had met a friend at a pub, before he later headed to a bus stop as he made his way home.

Advocate depute Scott McKenzie said that as the man was walking to the bus stop, he heard shouting and saw a woman with blood on her face arguing with Burns.

The prosecutor said that the man did not know the woman or Burns, but, believing the female to be hurt, told Burns not to hit her. He added: “A brief fight followed between the accused and [the man], which ended quickly.”

The advocate depute said: “While [the victim] was walking away, he heard a car engine revving behind him. He turned to see a white car mount the pavement and drive straight towards him.”

A witness said the Skoda driven by Burns was being driven fast towards the victim, who had no time to get out of its way.

The advocate depute said the victim was struck to the side of his legs and thrown onto the bonnet of the car. Burns slammed on the brakes, which resulted in the victim falling off the vehicle and landing on the pavement.

The prosecutor said: “[The victim] tried to stand but he collapsed into the middle of the road. The accused drove round a nearby roundabout before coming back towards him for a second time. [The victim] was still lying injured on the road.”

“He tried to roll towards a parked car to get out of the way, but the accused drove at him and struck him again. The vehicle came to a stop and [the victim] was unable to move while the car was over the top of him. The accused then drove away,” he told the court.

The victim was left lying on the road badly injured but managed to phone a friend who ran to the scene and found him. One of his legs was bent at an unnatural angle and he was in extreme pain.

Police and ambulance personnel responded to an emergency call and the man was taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, where he was found to have suffered limb fractures and later underwent surgery.

Burns was stopped by police on February 11 at Bonnyrigg, in Midlothian, and arrested. He has been held in custody since an initial court appearance.

Lady Haldane adjourned sentencing until next month.