Mum jailed for encouraging son during attempt to murder neighbour

A mother who took part in a murder bid with her son, leaving a neighbour seriously injured, has been jailed for eight years and three months.

Carolyn Martin, 55, threw liquid at the man before shouting, “Go Stephen”, to her son Stephen McAulay, who stabbed the victim outside his home in Glasgow.

A judge told Martin: “You encouraged your son to attack [the victim] and your son stabbed [the victim] multiple times on his head and body.”

Lord Young said at the High Court in Edinburgh: “The background to this incident was some previous bad blood between your son and [the victim], one of his neighbours.”

Last year, the judge jailed McAulay, 36, for seven and a half years for his role in the attempted murder.

Lord Young said McAulay was sentenced for exactly the same crime as Martin, but added there were some differences.

He told Martin: “You appear to have been the person who provoked the confrontation that evening.”

The judge said that Martin was previously a victim of domestic abuse and has struggled with drug addiction for most of her adult life.

Martin admitted that, while acting with McAulay, they assaulted and attempted to murder his neighbour in the Carntyne area of Glasgow on May 13, 2024.

An unidentified liquid was thrown at him and he was repeatedly struck with a knife to his severe injury, permanent impairment and disfigurement and to the danger of his life.

The court heard that McAulay had earlier challenged the victim over a letter that was put on his car, which he thought was put there by his neighbour or his wife.

Advocate Jennifer Nicholson-White said: “[The victim] told McAulay that he was stupid as the letter had been placed on the car by the council who wished the cars to be moved in order for work to be carried out.”

McAulay sustained an injury to his face following the confrontation.

McAulay and his mother were later caught on camera leaving his home in Moorfoot Street, with the son carrying a knife which he tucked into the back of his trousers.

Martin then approached the victim’s home before joining her son in the street.

When the victim left the house, liquid was thrown at him before Martin shouted, “Go Stephen”, and her son removed the concealed weapon and stabbed the victim in the face, head and body. Footage of the murder bid was shown to the court.

Martin and McAulay made off in a car and paramedics arrived who found the injured man bleeding heavily and slipping in and out of consciousness.

The victim was seen to have multiple wounds to his face, shoulder and left flank. He underwent surgery and was given a blood transfusion. A consultant ophthalmologist who operated on his right eye said he would be left with very poor vision in the eye.

Lord Young said a victim impact statement suggested that the victim, who was a crane operator, will struggle to return to work.

Defence counsel David Taylor said Martin has long standing mental health issues which resulted in her being prescribed with anti depressant medication.