Ms Sutherlay has been sentenced to six years and eight months after pleading guilty to culpable homicide. She was originally charged with the murder of Mr MacFadyen after attacking him with a pair of scissors, but a plea was accepted to the lesser charge. The attack took place in June of last year just two days after the victim was released from prison. Mr Sutherlay claimed that the attack took place after the victim stabbed her first with the scissors in the leg. The lesser plea was accepted on the basis of provocation as the crown could not dispute Ms Sutherlay’s narration of events in which she admitted to stabbing the man after he stabbed her.  At the High Court Lord Matthews told Ms Sutherlay: “The stab wound you inflicted brought about his death.”