Hamilton thug found guilty of assault

Nov 26 2009

A HAMILTON thug was last week found guilty of assaulting a man on his way to a town night club.

Graeme Cunningham, of Neilsland Road, had punched Hamilton Water Palace supervisor Aaron McMurray in Cadzow Street on September 14 last year.

Mr McMurray (30) had earlier been at a work ‘leaving do’ in Chambers Bar in Almada Street.

As a result of the attack, Mr McMurray required surgery which included having two metal plates inserted into his left cheekbone.

Following a three-day trial before a jury, Cunningham (25) was found guilty of assaulting Mr McMurray by punching him on the head to his severe injury and permanent impairment.

Giving evidence last Thursday, detective constable Harry Mayes said he had interviewed the accused at Hamilton police office after Mr McMurray identified him as being the man who had assaulted him.

In a transcript of the interview read out in court, Cunningham had told the officer he had been in the ML3 bar from 10pm on the night of Saturday, September 13, with his fiancee Leeann Morrison, pal Alan Rankin and Gemma Thomas.

Cunningham, who is 6ft. 2ins. tall and weighs 17½ stone, said he had drunk 10 pints of beer between 10pm and 11.45pm, when he left the pub.

He claimed that while they were walking down Cadzow Street he heard two males acting in a ‘loud and aggressive’ manner.

One of them, said the accused, became involved in an argument with Alan Rankin and threatened to stab him.

He said Aaron McMurray punched him once and he retaliated. He had also described the matter as a ‘stupid argument’.

Mr McMurray, however, had earlier given evidence stating that as he and a friend reached the junction of Auchingramont Road and Cadzow Street they passed two men, one of whom was the accused, and a woman.

One of them had made a comment about a friend of Mr McMurray and the complainer had asked him what he was talking about.

The female, he said, then began shouting and swearing at him. Cunningham moved aggressively towards Mr McMurray’s pal and he told him ‘let’s go’.

But when he started to move away Cunningham suddenly punched him on the left cheek and he fell down.

He started to get up off the ground but the female scratched him on the left side of the face.

When he got up, Mr McMurray added, Cunningham then punched him two or three times on the head.

At the time Mr McMuray didn’t report the matter to the police. However, when the numbness on his face didn’t go away he went to Hairmyres Hospital.

An X-ray taken there showed his left cheek bone had been pushed inwards. There was also nerve damage under his left eye.

Following the jury’s verdict last Friday, Sheriff Danny Scullion deferred sentence on Cunningham - who has previous convictions for assault - until December 22 for reports and continued bail meantime.