Businessman found guilty of killing wife in frenzied knife attack

AN ACCOUNTANT was today convicted of murdering his wife in a savage attack at their family home.

David Lilburn, 45, inflicted 86 stab wounds on his wife Ann, 43, during the assault in Paisley last year.

The mother-of-three was knifed in the chest, head and limbs.

The jury took two hours to return its unanimous guilty verdict.

There were shouts of "yes" from the public gallery as the verdict was read out.

Several family members in court began to weep but Lilburn stared ahead impassively during the judgement.

His three grown-up children were in court to hear the verdict.

Lilburn did not deny carrying out the attack in July last year, claiming serious mental illness had pushed him to kill his wife at the family home in Arniston Way.

This illness made Lilburn believe a "black shadow" was sending him telepathic messages, ordering him to execute his partner of 26 years, he claimed.

But prosecutor advocate-depute Derek Ogg QC said Lilburn had constructed an elaborate lie to cover up an attack launched in a fit of rage when his wife tried to get a divorce.

The couple's marriage was on the rocks after Lilburn started having an affair with another woman, Lynn McGuire.

This proved the "final straw" for the devout Catholic wife who had supported him as he battled for years with mental illness, Mr Ogg said.

"There's an argument, there's a domestic. It wasn't a black shadow that battered her head against the door," he said.

Lilburn had succeeded in tricking several doctors and psychiatrists into believing his deteriorating mental health was behind the attack, the advocate-depute said.

The son of David and Ann Lilburn read from a prepared statement outside court following the verdict.

David Lilburn, 26, said: "Our mother Ann Lilburn was the kindest and most caring person you have ever known. Not only was she a loving mother, but also a caring daughter, sister and auntie.

"She led a simple and ordinary life which was tragically and brutally taken from her on July 29 2007.

"We will sorely miss this beautiful woman who took great pleasure in her numerous roles and responsibilities without issue to the personal costs involved.

"She was always there for us no matter what.

"She had finally gained the inner strength to embark on a new life before the man she had loved brutally murdered her.

"We can only hope that now justice has been served our whole family will be able to grieve properly and we would appreciate the time and privacy to do so and that we may be allowed to get on with the rest of our lives as we know our mother would have wanted."

He also thanked the prosecution service for helping them through an "extremely difficult time".

He was flanked by his brother and sister, Paul, 25, and Laura, 19.

Other family members were also at court, including Mrs Lilburn's brothers, Tony Croft and Andrew Croft.

Temporary judge Ian Peebles QC adjourned the case to September 5 for sentencing reports.