" 'Once there he attempted suicide. He's utterly ashamed and remorseful about what has happened'."
http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/scottish/scottish_news/755106/Council-boss-who-fronted-Kelvingrove-Museum-revamp-had-knifed-girl.html
Purcell executive gets two years in jail
COUNCIL BOSS KNIFED GIRL
By Alex Dowdalls and Graham McKendry, 14/03/2010
A TOP official at the council formerly led by Steven Purcell has been caged for two years after stabbing his stepdaughter in the back.
Brutal Peter Marhsall - who fronted the £25million revamp of Glasgow's Kelvingrove Museum - knifed Kayleigh Thorpe when she confronted him over his £20,000 gambling debts.But despite the vicious assault, Marshall CONTINUED to work for Glasgow City Council on full pay until he appeared in court this week.
The revelations are yet another blow to the beleaguered local authority following 37-year-old Purcell's shock resignation and spell in a rehab clinic earlier this month.
Airdrie Sheriff Court heard how violent Marshall - a former senior executive with the Royal Mail - punctured 21-year-old Kayleigh's spleen during the attack in Stepps, Glasgow.
The boozed-up 40-year-old attacked the girl after a row erupted over his cash problems.
Prosecutor Peter Reid said: "He had been out for a drink with his victim's mother and both arrived back under the influence of drink and an argument ensued about Marshall's mounting gambling and debt problems.
"He came into the kitchen and stood behind the young woman, his stepdaughter, grabbed her arm across her chest and shoulder.
"She felt a pain in the left side of her back and then realised she'd been stabbed and was covered in blood.
"She was taken by ambulance to Glasgow Royal Infirmary and needed stitches. A CT scan revealed she had a penetrated spleen."
After the assault in May, Marshall fled the scene and tried to kill himself. He was saved after a friend who he had sent a text message to called an ambulance. Marhsall's lawyer
Stuart Hamilton said: "After stabbing her he went to Greenock, filled a prescription for anti-depressant drugs, bought a knife and then went to the Burrell Collection car park.
"Once there he attempted suicide. He's utterly ashamed and remorseful about what has happened.
"Mr Marshall was taken to the Victoria Infirmary and later transferred to Leverndale Hospital before being released. He understands the injury Kayleigh suffered was serious and is fortunate it was not worse.
"He feels worse as it was the girl who he helped raise as his own and deeply cared for."
High-flyer Marshall was the Project Manager and Resource Programmer for Glasgow City Council, who he'd joined in 2002.
He was the driving force behind the Kelvingrove refurbishment and was closely involved in the success of the gallery's Dr Who exhibition last year. Mr Hamilton said: "With the added responsibilities came increased duties and increased stress."
Marshall, who admitted the attack, was living in a £220,000 house in Stepps, Glasgow, at the time of the stabbing. It is currently on the market to be sold. His lawyer added: "He has no idea why he started gambling. It seemed to coincide with the death of his mother in 2007."
Sheriff Morag Galbraith said: "These are very serious matters. The use of knives will not be tolerated and the only option is imprisonment.
"It would have been a sentence of 36 months, but I will give you a one third discount for your early plea."
A spokesman for Culture and Sport Glasgow, said: "We can confirm that the individual involved no longer works for the organisation."