Samurai Sword Attacker Avoids Jail

A Kirkcaldy man who attacked his lifelong friend with a samurai sword in row over an X-Box game has been spared jail.

Christopher Smith took his girlfriend's father's weapon out of their house in Caithness Place and repeatedly struck Mark Wood with it - one cut sliced his arm and into the bone. The injury was so severe doctors had to screw his elbow joint back together.

During the fight on October 3, Smith pinned Mr Wood down and held the sword against his throat - despite that, Smith's victim turned up at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court to support him.

The 28 year old pleaded guilty to a charge of assault on indictment, and has been ordered to do 300 hours unpaid work and 18 months supervision.

Fiscal depute Lindsey Armstrong told Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court: "The accused and the complainer are life long friends.
 
"At around 7.45pm they were in an address in Caithness Place, Kirkcaldy, arguing over an X-Box game.
 
"The complainer asked the accused for a fight and left the property and was shouting for a fight.
 
"The accused then left and was in the possession of the samurai sword, then struck the complainer on the arm with it.
 
"They became involved in a fight on the ground and during the course of this the accused repeatedly struck the complainer on the body with the sword.
 
"At one point the accused had the sword pressed against the complainer's throat while he was on the ground.
 
"The fight stopped and the complainer headbutted the accused two or three times, to which the accused said 'I deserved that'.
 
"When police arrived the accused said for them to look for his friend because 'he's the one that's hurt'.
 
"The complainer was traced but refused to stop initially and CS spray had to be deployed."
 
Smith, 28, of Caithness Place, Kirkcaldy, pleaded guilty on indictment to a charge of assault committed on October 3 last year.
 
Martin Maguire, defending, said: "His victim has actually come to court today in support of Mr Smith.
 
"Violence of this type is out of character for him."
 
Sheriff Jamie Gilchrist QC imposed a community payback order with 300 hours unpaid work and 18 months supervision.