Woman given three-year supervision and treatment order for killing partner

A woman who shot her partner dead at the home they shared in Galashiels has been given a three-year supervision and treatment order.

Simone Ramage was sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh after a judge concluded she was responsible for the killing of Brian Kowbel in February 2023.

He also found her to have been in possession of an air rifle without holding the relevant firearm certificate.

Judge John Morris KC told Ramage he was satisfied the non-custodial sentence was “the most suitable means of dealing with you”.

He said the 41-year-old - who was deemed unfit to stand trial due to a mental disorder - would have to comply with treatment aimed at improving her health.

When asked how she was getting on with her current doctor, Ramage replied: “Good.”

But the judge told Ramage if she does not comply with the supervision and treatment order, it may be revoked and she will be back in court.

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Ramage shot Mr Kowbel on February 17th, 2023 at their home in Chris Paterson Place, leaving him so severely injured that he later died at Borders General Hospital.

Earlier this year, Judge Morris found Ramage responsible for the killing, following an examination of facts hearing at the High Court in Edinburgh.

This came after Judge Susan Craig deemed Ramage unfit to stand trial at a hearing in March last year.

An examination of facts takes the place of a trial when someone is considered unfit to stand trial due to a mental disorder.

The court previously heard how Ramage had been aiming at targets in the back garden before she discharged the weapon inside.

According to a witness, Mr Kowbel was leaving the kitchen of the property after she shouted him through to the living room, when the gun went off.

A child in the house at the time told police they thought it was the woman's intention to shoot past Mr Kowbel.

After he was hit, the court heard Ramage dialled 999 and performed CPR while covered in blood.

But, despite efforts to save him, the 40-year-old - who worked for R3 Repairs - died from a gunshot wound to his chest.

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Defence lawyer Victoria Dow told the court that Ramage didn’t know the weapon was loaded. She said this meant that her client wasn’t responsible for the act.

In a recorded interview played in court, the child witness - who we are not naming - said: "She (Ramage) was playing about with the gun and talking about wanting to scare him; and said it would be funny because he scares easily. We were all joking about it and laughing.

"She was shouting at him to come through. He said: 'Give me two minutes'. Then the gun went off."

But she added: "I don't blame her. She's going to be blaming herself. It was an accident. We want her to know she's not to blame."

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