A pensioner has gone on trial accused of abducting a sheriff in Aberdeenshire and threatening First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.
William Curtis, 70, along with 60-year-old Philip Mitchell, are both charged with attacking Sheriff Robert McDonald on June 29 2021 – allegations the pair deny.
The incident is said to have happened in St Mary’s car park next to Banff Sheriff Court where Sheriff McDonald presides.
It’s claimed the pair assaulted and abducted the sheriff by grabbing him, pulling their alleged victim to the ground, then sitting on top of him and detaining him against his will.
Curtis alone faces a further two charges of behaving in a threatening and abusive manner.
In earlier separate incidents, Curtis is also accused of threatening Nicola Sturgeon MSP and sending a video concerning the murder of MP Jo Cox to another SNP politician.
The 70-year-old has denied the claims at the High Court in Glasgow.
It’s alleged that he sent emails and posted social media messages making “threatening remarks” to the First Minister between February 27 and March 6 2019.
The indictment adds it would likely have caused “fear and alarm”.
Video relating to murder of Labour MP Jo Cox
Curtis is then accused of acting in a similar manner towards former Banffshire and Buchan Coast MSP Stewart Stevenson.
The charge claims on March 9 2019, the OAP sent a threatening online message that also contained a link to a video relating to the killing of Labour MP Jo Cox.
Both accusations are said to have occurred at an address in Aberchirder.
Curtis is being represented by defence KC Gareth Jones, but Mitchell is representing himself.
A not-guilty plea has been lodged for Mitchell.
Curtis has a special defence of incrimination, claiming the allegations involving Stewart Stevenson were committed by someone else.
The trial, before judge Lord Weir, continues.