The trial of three men accused of murdering a young dad at the entrance to an Aberdeen shopping centre has been adjourned until tomorrow.
Kiel Hauley, 33, Jonas Marcius, 22, and Adrian Morley, 33, all appeared at the High Court in Aberdeen this morning and denied murdering Craig Grant in August 2013 at the city’s Bon Accord Street.
Senior counsel for both Hauley and Marcius, Brian McConnachie QC, and Mark Stewart QC, have lodged special defences for their clients of self defence.
Jurors were read a joint minute of agreement before the trial was adjourned for administrative matters to be taken care of.
Witnesses are expected to be called tomorrow to start giving evidence.
Prosecutors allege the trio assaulted Mr Grant, of St Andrews Terrace, Inverurie, at the entrance to the Galleria Shopping Centre.
The Crown claims they seized him by the neck, forced him to the ground, struck him on the head and body, placed him in a neck hold or choke hold and compressed his neck.
Prosecutors also claim they knelt on his back and compressed his chest before seizing him by the legs and holding him down on the ground.
It is also alleged that they restricted his breathing and that they asphyxiated him.
The trial continues tomorrow.