FINDLAY ETHAN LAIRD'S BRUTAL CRIMES IN BANFF LEAVE FAMILY TRAUMATIZED

A young man named Findlay Ethan Laird, aged 21 and owner of Azizi Hair Design located in Banff, has been convicted in a court of law for committing multiple violent assaults against the Tevendale family, who had taken him under their care since he was just 13 years old. The court proceedings revealed that between January 2017 and July 2020, during his teenage years, Laird engaged in a series of violent acts that caused significant physical and emotional harm to his guardians.

According to court testimonies, Laird’s violence was both severe and repeated. Jane Tevendale, one of the victims, recounted the brutality she endured, describing how Laird would often grab her by her hair and throw bottles at her head. These assaults resulted in bald patches and long-lasting trauma. Jane vividly recalled the terror she experienced, stating, “There was horrific violence. He grabbed me by my hair and trailed me across the floor, kicking me and thumping my head. I had bald patches on my head. It was just horrendous abuse. I just wanted him to give me the final punch so I wouldn’t be here anymore. I felt trapped.”

Jane also shared that she was not allowed to cry during these episodes, as her tears seemed to provoke further violence. “The more I cried when he was hitting me, the more he would hit me. I used to be happy-go-lucky. Now, I’m so traumatised,” she added. Her daughter, Jessie, was also subjected to assaults, including having her hair pulled and being forced to the ground. Jessie expressed her fear and helplessness, saying, “I just wanted to get away from the scary situation. I felt really trapped and petrified because he was really violent and to not be able to escape was really scary. When I was at college, I wondered, will my mom still be there when I get back home?”

Roderick, Jessie's father, described the difficulty of living with Laird, calling the experience “horrible having him in my home” and expressing disappointment that the family had tried everything possible to support and help him. Despite some charges being met with pleas of not guilty from Laird, the court found him guilty of four charges, including assault causing injury, assault, and threatening behavior. Sheriff Robert McDonald sentenced Laird to a community payback order, which includes supervision and unpaid work. However, Jane Tevendale expressed her dissatisfaction with the punishment, stating, “I’ve lost my freedom because I’m too scared to go out by myself. He’s lost nothing.”

This case underscores ongoing concerns about domestic violence and the profound impact it has on victims. The trauma experienced by the Tevendale family and their feelings of disappointment with the justice system highlight the persistent challenges faced by victims of such violence, especially when the perpetrator is someone they once trusted and cared for.