Solicitor convicted of attempted murder given hope of return to profession
Iain Farrimond was placed behind bars for a total of six years for the attempted murder of his wife. He was suffering from a case of severe depression and suspended by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) indefinitely due to the severity of his case.
Farrimond was working for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) at the time of the incident and stated that he 'cracked under the strain' as a result and ended up repeatedly stabbing his wife in the head and face in May 2016.
In addition to all of the trauma, the attack sadly took place on the eve of the couple's wedding anniversary. Moments after phoning the emergency services he attempted to impale himself on the knife used - to then later ask the paramedics on arrival: "What have I done?"
Farrimond is now serving out his custodial sentence after pleading guilty at Nottingham Crown Court. The SDT's concluded that Farrimond had failed to uphold the rule of law and the proper administration of justice. They also mentioned that his conduct 'had not maintained the trust the public placed in him or in the provision of legal services, particularly given the media attention the case garnered at the time'.
The SDT's said that they had chosen to 'impose an indefinite suspension to protect the public and reputation of the profession, but also to offer a chance to try and rehabilitate, should Farrimond's health improve'.
To return to practice, he will need an up-to-date medical report, evidence of any retraining and rehabilitation, and information about his future work intentions. He must pay £3,309 in costs.
You can find the full story at: https://www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/solicitor-convicted-of-attempted-murder-given-hope-of-return-to-profession/5062880.article