A pensioner attempted to take revenge on his neighbours because he blamed them for the death of his dog.
Alexander Boyd, 76, armed himself with a hammer and a knife and attacked Peter and Helen Gallosi in their Black Isle home.
Boyd, of 79 Drumsmittal Road, North Kessock, later told police he had planned to kill another neighbour before returning home to kill his wife and “possibly” himself.
When he appeared at Inverness Sheriff Court yesterday, he admitted assaulting Mr Gallosi in his home and brandishing a knife and a hammer and attempting to strike him with them.
Fiscal depute Roderick Urquhart told the court that a year before the attack, the Gallosis told police that Boyd’s dog had bitten someone – and the animal was later put down.
Mr Urquhart said Mr Gallosi was in his conservatory when Boyd appeared outside at about 2pm on August 3.
When asked what he was doing there, Boyd replied: “I’m not here to see you, I’m here to see your wife.”
He then lunged towards Mr Gallosi and tried to strike him with a six-inch kitchen knife.
Mr Urquhart said: “Peter Gallosi grabbed hold of his wrists to prevent him stabbing him and shouted on his wife to phone the police.
“He managed to gain possession of the knife and his wife removed it from the conservatory and dialled 999.”
Mr Urquhart said Boyd then produced a hammer from his waistband, and lifted it above his head as if to strike.
Mr Gallosi grabbed it and managed to bring the pensioner down to the ground into a sitting position.
Mrs Gallosi then managed to get the hammer.
The couple’s daughter alerted a neighbour, Allan MacLachlan, telling him that “the husky man” had attacked her father.
The court was told that Mr MacLachlan heard Boyd say: “You’ve all killed my dog. None of you want us here. We thought we’d found the perfect retirement home.”
Police arrived and found Boyd sitting on the couch. When he saw the police, Boyd said, “I am the one you want. I’m the guilty one.”
Police cautioned and arrested Boyd and he replied: “I wish I’d murdered them.”
Boyd told police that he was suffering from depression and cancer. He was later assessed and declared legally sane.
Sheriff Gordon Fleetwood deferred sentence until February for reports and Boyd was remanded in custody.