Man Convicted, Jailed For Acid Attack On Reporter
William Burns, found guilty in June of attacking journalist Russell Findlay, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison. Before sentencing him, the presiding judge described him as “clearly a dangerous man.” He also noted that “The freedom of the press is an essential tool in the armoury of any democracy and attacks of this nature will not be tolerated.”
Mr. Burns threw acid in Mr. Findlay’s face in the December 2015 attack; Mr. Findlay caught and detained him for police with the help of some neighbors. At the time, Mr. Findlay was an editor for the Scottish Sun. According to a specialist, Mr. Findlay could have lost his eyesight because of the attack; quick action and medical attention helped preserve it.
Mr. Findlay continues to work as a journalist and to write non-fiction books. His publications include Caught in the Crossfire (2012) and The Iceman: The Rise and Fall of a Crime Lord (2008) (with Jim Wilson).