Jennifer Mitchell, 53, admitted attacking her partner Graham Whyte with an electric drill at Rose Cottage East, New Alyth, on 17 April 2025, causing injury and danger to his life.
She told police: "I tried to kill Graham. I hit him over the head with the electric drill." She claimed voices in her head made her do it.
Attack details
Fiscal depute Douglas Thomson told Perth Sheriff Court: "The accused and Mr Whyte had been in a relationship for 17 years. He was outside working in the summer house and she offered to help move tools inside to help him. While he was leaning down he was struck on the back of the head with a blunt object."
"It left him feeling dazed and he was unsure what had happened. He saw the accused behind him. He fled in his motor vehicle and returned later. He saw the drill lying on the floor and it had not been there earlier and he realised that is what had been used to assault him. He contacted police."
Mitchell was arrested and told officers: "The voices got too much. Look after Graham for Scott." Officers recovered the drill from the summer house. They found Mitchell in a vehicle at a nearby supermarket car park. She stated the voices in her head made her do it. She was taken to hospital and deemed mentally fit.
Court hearing
Mr Thomson said: "Mr Whyte was found to have swelling and bruising to the back of the head. He was dizzy and nauseous. He was sent home with head injury advice."
The court was told there was no evidence of "abnormality of thought" and she was deemed fit by a psychiatrist. The court was told that 'Scott' was the victim's late son.
Sheriff William Wood deferred sentence for reports and Mitchell's bail was continued.
