A HOTEL entertainer from the Caribbean is facing a lengthy jail sentence after stabbing his Scots wife, despite her paying off his family's debts from her £43,000 redundancy payout.
Fiona Garcia, 40, was stabbed in the chest by Jose Garcia, 28, during a discussion about money being sent home to his family in the Dominican Republic.
She needed surgery and was kept in hospital for about two weeks and was off work for two months.
The couple had met in the Caribbean in August 2010 when she was on holiday with her mother and began a relationship.
In February 2011, after Mrs Garcia had received her redundancy payout, they married abroad before he moved to her home in East Kilbride, Lanarkshire, and she cleared his family's debt.
However, there was tension in the house over money and during a discussion about him sending more money than they agreed to his family, he walked into the living room and plunged a knife into her chest.
Garcia had denied attacking his wife last July 19 and claimed he accidentally put the blade into her when he picked up the knife and turned round to face her in the kitchen.
However, the jury at the High Court in Glasgow rejected his explanation and convicted him of attempted murder.
Mrs Garcia broke down in tears when the verdict was returned and was consoled by relatives. Garcia showed no reaction.
Judge Michael O'Grady, QC, told him it was an appalling and disturbing crime and his wife survived "no thanks to him". The judge added: "It was a cold-blooded attack with a lethal weapon". Garcia was told he faces a lengthy jail term.
The court heard the couple married after a holiday romance. In the summer of 2011 and, after getting a visa, Garcia moved to the UK to be with her - leaving behind a son and other family. When he could, he sent money to his family in the Caribbean.
Mrs Garcia told the court: "His family had debt which I had cleared before he left."
She said she had been assaulted on other occasions by him throughout their marriage and he was supposed to return to the Dominican Republic months before the attack, but that he never got on the flight booked for him.
The couple later reconciled and he moved back into her house.
On the day of the attack they were planning a barbecue and she had gone to the shops for food. When she returned she saw he had left money for her, but it was less than she expected because he was sending more home to his family than they had agreed.
Mrs Garcia said words were exchanged, but there was no argument. She said she went into the living room to get her handbag and as she made her way back to the kitchen, Garcia came towards her and stabbed her with a large knife.
He ran from the house and Mrs Garcia was able to make a call to the emergency services.
Under cross-examination defence counsel Louise Arrol asked: "The ladies and gentleman should understand you had been the breadwinner for some time?" She replied: "Yes."
Ms Arrol continued: "That you had effectively gone through your entire redundancy payment supporting Mr Garcia?" Mrs Garcia replied: "Yes."
Garcia will be sentenced next month.
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