William McBurnie jailed for 11 years after crashing into the glass-fronted office of former girlfriend’s Jedburgh funeral director premises
Simon Johnson Scottish Political Editor
A former police officer who attempted to murder his ex-girlfriend and her mother by driving a car into the funeral home where she worked was “charming but dangerous”, she has said after he was jailed.
Zoe Turnbull, 46, and her mother Beverley Turnbull, 71, were inside the premises in Jedburgh in the Scottish Borders when the incident happened on Dec 7 2022.
William McBurnie, 57, previously admitted attempting to murder the pair by driving the car at them “at speed” through the window ofZoe Turnbull Funeral Directors in Market Place,to their injury and the danger of their lives.
The women had to take evasive action to avoid being hit by the vehicle. The High Court in Livingston heard he was drunk at the time of the incident.
McBurnie, who previously served with the Police Service of Northern Ireland, was jailed for 11 years after pleading guilty last month.
Speaking after the hearing, Zoe Turnbull said: “Finally, after two years of physical, emotional and practical chaos, we have justice. McBurnie was the Jekyll and Hyde of Jedburgh – charming in public but dangerous behind the scenes.
“I believe the attempt on my life happened because he knew he was losing his grip on me and this extreme act was some warped and cowardly attempt to control things. He was just a forceful monster who encroached on our lives and used violence to get his own way.”
In a statement issued by her lawyers, she added: “That man has shamed himself, the police service and his family – objectively, after what he did, jail really is the only place for him.”
Judge Lord Mulholland placed McBurnie on an extended sentence of 13 years, including two years of supervision on his release from prison.
Sentencing McBurnie, the judge said: “Your conduct was so cowardly, selfish and reckless that it could easily have killed her and her mother who was also present. You are fortunate that you are not in the dock facing a charge of murder.”
Lord Mulholland said he took into account the financial damage McBurnie had caused to Zoe Turnbull’s business and the health problems he had caused her mother.
He said Beverley Turnbull’s health had deteriorated “significantly” following the incident “and you should be ashamed for what you did.”
“You were a former police officer and you have a criminal conviction for driving whilst intoxicated. You would have been aware therefore that you should not be driving intoxicated,” the judge concluded.
“You turned a mode of transport, your vehicle, into a lethal weapon and used it with devastating effect.”
McBurnie was also banned from driving for 16-and-a-half years and issued with indefinite non-harassment orders concerning both women, preventing him from contacting them.
Prosecutors had told the court McBurnie had woken up at 6am on the day of the incident and drank a third of a litre of a bottle of whisky before driving into town to complete an errand.
His former partner later saw him sitting at the junction opposite her funeral director business and expressed concern to her mother, who suggested she lock the door. McBurnie drove away but turned around using the one-way system.
He then accelerated at speed over a junction before mounting the pavement, crashing through two large flower planters and into the glass-fronted office.
As his vehicle approached, his former partner was standing beside her desk while her mother had gone towards the office door, which had frosted glass.
Ms Turnbull noticed the car approaching and yelled at her mother: “He’s coming, he’s coming, he’s coming through the window.” She turned away from the oncoming vehicle and pinned herself against the wall of the office.
The car narrowly missed the women, who were both injured as a result, with one being hit by debris. The office desk was hit with such force that it was embedded in the back wall.
McBurnie, who sustained a minor friction burn on his wrist, was heard to then say: “Sorry, I don’t know what I was thinking.”
Whilst waiting for police to attend, he said he had been struggling to come to terms with the end of the relationship and had been drinking heavily.
Moira Orr, who leads on homicide and major crime for the Crown Office, said: “This was an extremely reckless act which could have had devastating consequences had it not been for the swift actions of William McBurnie’s former partner.
“Our thoughts and best wishes remain with both women as they continue to deal with the lasting trauma caused by this individual.”