Man Jailed for Attempted Murder After Stabbing Estranged Wife in Front of Daughter

A 26-year-old man who launched a violent and sustained knife attack on his estranged wife in broad daylight, repeatedly stabbing her in front of their young daughter, has been sentenced to seven and a half years in prison for attempted murder.

Osarenkhoe Atutie, who previously pled guilty to the violent offence, was handed the custodial sentence at the High Court in Glasgow on Wednesday, 5 August, 2026. The harrowing incident unfolded during the morning of Tuesday, 11 November, 2025, in the Duke Street area of Leith, Edinburgh.  

The court heard that the couple had married in Nigeria about four years before the attack and subsequently moved to London, where their child was born. Following a breakdown in their relationship, his 30-year-old wife, Victory Atutie, and her daughter moved to Edinburgh, where Atutie managed to track them down. The sentencing judge noted that this pursuit indicated "a degree of foresight" to the attack. On the day of the assault, Victory Atutie and her daughter, who was in a pram, were making their way to a GP surgery when the young girl called out "Daddy, daddy". Victory immediately panicked upon seeing her estranged husband. He approached the 30-year-old woman, who was known to him, told her that he had a knife, and demanded that she follow him.  

The situation rapidly escalated as Atutie hugged his daughter before grabbing his wife's hair and repeatedly stabbing her on the head and body with a knife. The High Court heard that the brutal assault inflicted 12 separate injuries upon Victory Atutie, including permanent scarring to her face and a collapsed lung. The victim was taken to the hospital for treatment, where she remained for four days before being released. The violent attack was only brought to a halt prior to emergency services arriving because three men who witnessed the assault came to her aid. These members of the public bravely disarmed Atutie and apprehended him nearby, holding onto him until police officers arrived and arrested him at the scene. Following his arrest, Atutie told police: "I am sorry things have got like this.".  

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During the hearing, defence solicitor Jonny Campbell stated that his client recognises that, were it not for the intervention of members of the public, the consequences for the victim may likely have been fatal. Mr Campbell explained that Atutie was struggling with his mental health at the time, but acknowledged that this does not justify his actions. The defence solicitor also noted the contents of the victim impact statement, stating: "In the victim impact statement there is a high level of empathy, which is to her credit and which Mr Atutie does not necessarily deserve.".  

Passing sentence, Lord Cubie fiercely condemned the defendant, describing the incident as a "sustained attack" on a "defenceless victim". Imposing a lifelong non-harassment order banning Atutie from ever contacting his ex-wife again, Lord Cubie emphasized the severity of the violence, stating: "She could have died. It was plainly through a combination of luck and the intervention of passers-by that she survived.". The judge formally commended the members of the public who intervened, telling Atutie: "They bravely disarmed you and held you until police arrived. They are to be commended.". Highlighting the ongoing trauma inflicted by the assault, Lord Cubie added: "The victim's daily life, her sense of security and overall wellbeing have been fundamentally affected.". Atutie's jail term was reduced from 10 years to seven and a half years due to his guilty plea, and he will be closely supervised for a further 18 months upon his release.  

Following the sentencing, Police Scotland released a statement praising the courageous bystanders and condemning the violence. Detective Sergeant Craig McMillan said: “This was a particularly harrowing incident, and my thoughts are with the victim and her family.". He extended his gratitude to the witnesses, stating: "I’d like to thank those members of the public who came to the victim’s aid during the ordeal. Without their intervention and assistance, there is a high chance that the victim would not have survived the attack.". Detective Sergeant McMillan reaffirmed the force's commitment to protecting the public, adding: "Tackling violence against women and girls is one of Police Scotland’s highest priorities and we continue to work with partners to achieve this.". He concluded by stating: “Violence in any form and the possession of weapons in any environment has no place in Scotland and is entirely unacceptable. Tackling the harmful effects of violent crime, which has a devastating impact on individuals, families and our communities, and supporting victims, remains a priority for our officers.".

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