Man jailed for 10 years after chainsaw murder bid on police officer

A man who tried to kill a police officer after chasing him with a chainsaw has been sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Liridon Kastrati, 32, was found guilty of brandishing a power tool at officers in Paisley, Renfrewshire, on May 6, 2024, and denied the single charge of attempting to murder four police officers.

The Albanian national used expletives at the sentencing and called the judge and Scotland “terrorists”.

Police Scotland said constable PC Gary Cowan had returned to work after the “extremely traumatic” incident.

The 10-year prison sentence was postponed to May 2024.

Immediately after the sentencing, Kastrati began hitting the defendants and shouted in Albanian at judge William Gallacher.

He then used expletives in English and called the judge a “terrorist”, adding that “your country” was a “terrorist” before being taken away by guards.

The judge had previously described Kasrati’s behavior in chasing Cowan down the street for a “significant” distance while operating the chainsaw as “seriously concerning”.

“PC Cowan thought you would cut off his limbs and kill him if he didn’t get away from you,” he said.

“It was clear you were in hot pursuit with a deadly weapon and had little respect for anything or anyone other than PC Cowan.

“Considering the many incidents I have experienced in Scotland over the years, I have never seen a chainsaw used as a weapon.

“Many people may think this is only typical of a horror movie.”

He said much of the incident was captured on CCTV or mobile phone footage and that Kastrati had intended to cause “catastrophic” damage before Cowan’s colleagues arrived at the scene and helped capture him.

Judge Gallacher said: “Your conduct caused serious harm but the potential could have been much worse.

“If PC Cowan had not been able to run fast enough or had stumbled and fallen, the scene could have been a massacre.”

The court had previously heard that Kastrati was arrested and interrogated without either a lawyer or an Albanian interpreter.

When the charges were read to him, he repeatedly stated that the collision was a “car accident.”

Kastrati had been detained for 18 months since the accident.

During a hearing at the High Court in Paisley in November, Cowan said he was in a police car with a colleague when a Volkswagen driven by Kastrati crashed into the side of the vehicle, activating the airbag.

The court heard Kastrati got out of the driver’s seat, looked at the police car and “started to run away”.

The 35-year-old police officer said he approached Kastrati with the intention of arresting him.

But when he was “about 10 meters” away, the defendant returned to his vehicle and pulled out a chainsaw, then followed him, shouting obscenities.

“He was running after me with the chainsaw, holding the chainsaw up and running after me,” Cowan recalled.

He added: “I thought if I didn’t create distance he would kill me.”

The officer admitted he was “terrified” and said he believed Kastrati “was going to see my arms and cut my head off.”

Kastrati was arrested after officers called for emergency assistance.

Cowan and his colleague, who were injured in the first accident, were treated by paramedics.

John Scullion, defending, told the KC trial jury: “Mr Kastrati accepts removing the chainsaw from the car, swearing, injuring PC Cowan, and swinging the chainsaw at other officers during this frightening and distressing incident.

“You should condemn him for these parts.”

However, Scullion claimed the police investigation was “flawed” and “lacked impartiality and objectivity”.

The jury made its decision after 3 hours of deliberation.

Speaking after the sentencing, Police Scotland’s Renfrewshire and Inverclyde area commander, Ch Supt Rhona Fraser, said Cowan had returned to work and was doing well after the “extremely traumatic” incident.

“It was a very distressing experience and my thoughts remain with the police officer at this time,” he said.

“I want to recognize the bravery shown by our officers.

“Their decisive action, and that of an equally brave member of the public, quickly stopped Kastrati and contained the threat he posed.

“Every officer has the fundamental right to return home from each shift unharmed.

“They were just doing their job and this is not something they should have to face.”

Kastrati was previously acquitted of charges of disturbing the peace, car theft and driving after the prosecution withdrew the charges.