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Hospital knife attacker gets life
A murderer has been jailed for life for two knife attacks committed at a hospital while he was out on licence from prison. Health service union UNISON has welcomed the sentence. One of the people attacked was an Edinburgh nurse. Thomas McCammon was serving a life sentence for murder and robbery when he committed the crimes while on home leave. The 44-year-old pleaded guilty to attacking a male patient and admitted assaulting nurse Nicola Armstrong at the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh on 25 May. He cut Ms Armstrong with a weapon after she stood between him and his intended male victim to prevent any violence breaking out. The man was only superficially hurt but the nurse had to receive anti-viral treatment because she may have been exposed to the HIV virus by her attacker, who is HIV positive. Lord Drummond Young told McGammon as he sentenced him for attempted murder: 'Any assault in hospital premises, whether on patients or staff, must attract a very severe sentence. Those visiting a hospital, and especially those employed in hospital, are entitled to feel secure from attack.' Jim Devine, UNISON's Scottish organiser for health, said the sentence was a sign that courts are beginning to treat assaults on public service workers more seriously. 'This is in line with the six-point plan against violence that UNISON outlined last year,' he said.
Briefing document (300 words) issued 17 Dec 2004
