Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2004. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
BBC News - Monday, 15 November, 2004,
Stuart Robertson has to be fed through a tube as a result of the attack by convicted murderer Thomas McCammon.
The previous day McCammon wounded an HIV positive man in a city hospital.
A nurse was also cut in the attack and had to undergo anti-viral treatment amid fears she could be infected. The 44-year-old will be sentenced later.
He pleaded guilty to a series of attacks which took place in May while he was on home leave from prison.
HIV positive
McCammon admitted using a sharp instrument to assault patient Mark Smith and nurse Nicola Armstrong at the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh.
He admitted attempting to murder Mr Robertson at the city's Murrayburn Gardens the following day.
McCammon, who is himself HIV positive, also pleaded guilty to committing a breach of the peace at Wester Hailes police station by smearing blood on the walls and door of his cell.
Co-accused Rachel Smith, 43, from Edinburgh, admitted assaulting a woman in Murrayburn Gardens.
McCammon stuck the knife into the side of his neck and twisted it before removing it Alastair Brown Prosecuting She also pleaded guilty to smearing blood on a police car and on the blouse of one police officer, and spitting in the face of another. She will also be sentenced later.
The court heard that McCammon had been jailed for life in 1985 for murder and robbery.
Advocate depute Alastair Brown, prosecuting, said Mr Smith had been speaking to the receptionist at the Western General when he was confronted by McCammon.
Ms Armstrong stood between the two men because she feared that a fight was going to break out.
However, McCammon lunged past her with an unknown weapon and struck Mr Smith on the right side.
Considerable anxiety
The nurse was cut on the hand, and when it emerged that Mr Smith was HIV positive she had to undergo anti-viral treatment.
"She has also suffered very considerable anxiety, both on her own account and for her family - she being a widow with young children," said Mr Brown.
"In my submission an incident like this in a hospital is bad enough. Managing to put a member of hospital staff at risk in that way is worse."
Western General Hospital A nurse and patient were injured at the Western General The following day Smith, who was with McCammon, provoked a fight with Kelly Greig as she and her boyfriend were walking in Murrayburn Gardens.
Miss Greig managed to break free and run for home while her boyfriend ran to another house to seek help.
Marianne Stokes, who walks with a stick, then appeared on the scene and McCammon told her: "I don't do women, so I will get your man instead."
When Mr Robertson was approached by McCammon he told him that he only wanted to make sure Miss Stokes was alright.
"McCammon produced a knife and as Mr Robertson turned to walk away McCammon stuck the knife into the side of his neck and twisted it before removing it," said Mr Brown.
McCammon also hit Mr Robertson with a child's toy.
Confused speech
Mr Brown said that the victim was in hospital for four weeks after suffering "catastrophic" injuries.
Mr Robertson suffered nerve damage which has confused his speech and made it impossible for him to swallow.
He must now be fed through a tube three times a day.
McCammon and Smith were taken to Wester Hailes police station, where he opened up a wound on his arm and smeared blood on the walls.
Break the skin
Mr Brown said this posed an obvious health risk to those who had to clean up after him.
Police moved Smith to another police station, but on the way she rubbed her wrists against her handcuffs to break the skin.
She smeared blood onto the seat of a police car and on a female officer's blouse.
Smith later claimed to be HIV positive and spat in another officer's face as she was being taken from a cell to receive treatment.
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