A suicidal father who attempted to murder his two-year-old son by walking in front of a train while carrying the child after learning his ex-partner had moved on has been jailed for 10 years.
Frederick Danquah, 28, stepped in front of a train while holding his son after a relationship breakdown with the childâs mother.
Both the child and Danquah were injured in the incident at Garrowhill railway station in Glasgowâs east end on July 2, 2023.
Danquah denied attempted murder and another charge of culpable and reckless conduct, regarding another incident on the same date, stating his mental condition as a defence, but he was convicted by a jury at the High Court in Glasgow last month.
At the same court on Wednesday, the judge said the âharm was of the greatest kindâ and sentenced Danquah to 10 years in prison. He also imposed a non-harassment order until the child is 18.
The court heard that earlier that day, Danquah tried to climb over a footbridge above the M8 in Glasgow with his son on his shoulders, after arguing with his ex-partner who told him she had âmoved onâ.
After posting a suicidal message on Facebook, he prepared a âcontingency planâ including a note with contact details, the court heard.
Danquah collected the child from relatives and took him into Glasgow city centre and met his sisterâs partner, before he attempted to climb the bridge over the M8.
He was spotted by police but âreassured themâ, the court heard, before he travelled to Garrowhill station with the child and made an attempt on their lives.
British Transport Police said Danquah sustained a broken jaw and fracture to his neck, while his son suffered cuts and bruises but no serious injuries, and the child was discharged from hospital two days later.
Sentencing, Judge Tony Kelly said: âYou went to the platform, picked up your son and walked into the path of a train. You suffered injuries and your son was injured.
âTo seek to take the life of your son over some hours is great criminality. I have no doubt about your intentions. You meant to have his mother attend his funeral. It is clear you were most affected by the end of your relationship.
âShe moved on, itâs clear you felt unable to do so. She told you she had moved on.
âYou were intent on taking your own life on July 2, 2023. There were opportunities to place your son in the care of others, instead you took him with you.â
He said a train driver âsaw you step in the path of a trainâ and people involved in the rescue were in âvarious stages of upsetâ.
Danquahâs ex-partner suffered from anxiety and had given evidence about seeing her son in hospital with severe bruising, the court heard.
Judge Kelly added: âYou considered taking the life of a two-year-old. You sought to bring about for your partner the death of her son. You require to be punished.â
The court heard Danquah had no previous convictions and was involved in a Ghanian community group.
Danquah made further attempts on his life including in December 2023, the court heard.
Defending, Gary Allan said it was a âhorrible miracleâ and Danquah was receiving psychiatric help since a âone-off horror story took place at his own handâ.
Mr Allan said Danquahâs ex-partner had written to the judge to offer a âsubstantial degree of supportâ, including âconfirmation of his relationship with his childâ and âa suggestion of some kind of disbelief that he could have done thisâ, the court heard.
He added: âThe verdict of the jury was that the mental condition of the accused was not such that the statutory defence was made out. What the jury didnât do was say that he wasnât suffering from some kind of depressive condition.â
Mr Allan said Danquah had been âbeaten up by other prisonersâ, and jail âwill be living nightmare for himâ.
He urged the judge not to impose a non-harassment order, saying it would âsever the relationshipâ with the child.
