Woman gets compensation from ex who tried to kill her in funeral home crash

A woman whose ex-partner was jailed for trying to murder her and her mother by driving his car through a funeral home window has won a compensation payout.

Ex-police officer William McBurnie was given an 11-year sentence at the High Court in Livingston in October 2024.

He drove his car at speed through the front window of Zoe Turnbull's office in Jedburgh in December 2022 a few months after she had ended their relationship.

Her solicitors at Digby Brown have now confirmed that her civil case against McBurnie had now been settled for an undisclosed sum.

On jailing the former detective, Judge Lord Mullholland told McBurnie he had used his car as a "lethal weapon" and his conduct had been "cowardly and reckless".

The court heard how he had formed a relationship with Turnbull but she had broken up with him during the summer of 2022.

McBurnie had been working as a freelance press photographer in Jedburgh since relocating from his native Northern Ireland, where he worked as a police officer in Belfast.

He had been drinking on the morning of 7 December 2022, and was nearly three times over the alcohol limit when he drove at speed through the window of the town centre funeral home.

The vehicle narrowly missed Turnbull and her 71-year-old mother, Beverley, but it left both with life-changing conditions.

The court also saw CCTV footage from inside the funeral directors after McBurnie pleaded guilty.

His solicitor said his client had expressed "genuine remorse" for his actions and only had a vague recollection of what had happened.

After sentencing, Turnbull said McBurnie was the "Jekyll and Hyde of Jedburgh - charming in public but dangerous behind the scenes".

She described him as a "forceful monster" and said she and her mother hoped to put the "painful chapter" behind them.

She also urged anyone in a similar situation to speak up and get help.

Mairi Day, partner at Digby Brown Solicitors, confirmed the legal action against McBurnie had ended.

She said: "What happened to Zoe and her mother was life-changing – they suffered physical and emotional harm that will likely impact them both forever.

"After everything Zoe has gone through she has understandably requested privacy so I will not discuss the particulars of her civil action other than to confirm the case has now settled.

"I hope the end of the criminal and civil proceedings means Zoe can finally close this distressing chapter and focus on a positive future."