CCTV captured the moment a husband tried to kill his wife by mowing her down with his car before turning around and driving over her for a second time.
William Budge, 62, admitted to carrying out a horror murder bid against his 64-year-old wife Sandra in Edinburgh on April 14, 2024.
Footage taken from a car park showed Budge plough a silver car into Mrs Budge on the city’s Muirhouse Parkway last year.
She could be seen standing next to a relative, before she is struck by the car and clings onto the bonnet as she is dragged several feet onto a pathway. Mrs Budge then appears to be dragged under the car and she is callously run over by Budge.
The horror footage shows a family member running to help Mrs Budge as she lies lifeless on the grass.
William Budge drives the motor out onto the main road before looping around and driving over his wife a second time at speed.
Women and children can be heard screaming as Budge’s wife of 33 years lies motionless on the ground.
Budge pleaded guilty to assaulting his spouse to her severe injury, permanent disfigurement and impairment and to the danger of her life and attempting to murder her at the High Court in Edinburgh today.
Budge also pled guilty to assaulting the victim on a previous occasion between April 2016 and April the following year when he put his hands around her throat. He also admitted pursuing a course of abusive behaviour towards her between April 2019 and April last year when he shouted and swore at her, called her names, prodded her on the head with his fingers, pushed her onto a bed and subjected her to excessive text messages and calls.
The court heard that the victim had left Budge, of whom she shared children with, and moved into a flat on the street. On the day of the murder bid, she had parked her car near her flat but found that Budge had pulled up behind her car and had tried to speak to her.
She got out of her car before Budge grabbed her and tried to force her into his car. A relative of the victim arrived and began shouting at Budge, who said: “She’s f—ing embarrassed me.”
Budge proceeded to get back into his car before driving it straight into the victim. The unconscious casualty was taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, where she was found to have suffered damage to her lungs and liver, internal bleeding, rib and ankle fractures and other injuries.
The victim remained at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary until June 12 when she was transferred to another hospital for rehabilitation. Judge Lord Lake told Budge that he had pled guilty to “an extremely serious offence”.
Sentencing was deferred on Budge, who has no previous convictions, for the preparation of a background report.
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