A man has appeared in court accused of having a bottle of acid in Aberdeen city centre.
Finn Mackie, 22, is alleged to have possessed the highly corrosive substance inside a Lucozade bottle while standing outside the Grosvenor Casino on Exchequer Row, Aberdeen, in August last year.
It was claimed that police were made aware of a male being in possession of acid after a member of the public overheard a conversation outside the casino.
It was stated the man claimed he “could throw acid in people’s faces”.
Aberdeen Sheriff Court was told that the contents of the bottle were analysed it was found to be hydrochloric acid – a substance extremely harmful to human skin.
Mackie, of Farnburn Place, Aberdeen, denies a charge of having a corrosive substance in a public place.
‘A serious accusation’
It is alleged that at around 5.20am on August 12 last year police were made aware of a male who was outside the Grosvenor Casino with friends.
A conversation was overheard in which it is alleged Mackie stated that he “wanted to get drugs” and that he could “throw acid in people’s faces”.
Police arrived on the scene and arrested Mackie and took the bottle for forensic analysis where its contents were discovered to be hydrochloric acid.
The type of acid Mackie is alleged to have had in his possession is highly corrosive and can be extremely damaging to human skin, the court heard.
While attempting to alter his client’s bail conditions, Mackie’s solicitor, Paul Barnett, said that he “absolutely accepted” this was “a serious accusation”.
However, he added that it was being “treated less seriously by the Crown”, who have reduced it from a solemn criminal matter to a summary criminal court matter.
Accused trial date set
Sheriff Mungo Bovey denied Mr Barnet’s attempt to have his client’s bail conditions altered, citing the “seriousness” of the offence with which Mackie has been charged.
“I wouldn’t want to see him out in town at night,” the sheriff added.
Mackie will appear later in the year in relation to this matter.
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