A sheriff yesterday called for an explanation why criminal cases from well outside Inverness were brought to the already busy courts in the Highland capital.
Sheriff Margaret Neilson was prompted by a case which normally would be held in Elgin being called in her court and she asked depute fiscal Roderick Urquhart for an explanation.
Later in the same court, another case was called which could have been expected to be dealt with in Portree.
Sheriff Neilson accepted they were not decisions taken by Mr Urquhart, but asked him for answers when she appeared on the bench next week.
The Moray case involved James Stephen, who denied setting fire to the bedroom of his Burghead home at 30 Forteath Street on August 3 last year. He was also surprised that he had to make a 40 mile journey to Inverness and when he entered the dock, he asked: “Why am I here?”
His defence agent John MacColl also expressed surprise.
Stephen’s trial was due to be heard during a two week sheriff and jury sitting in Inverness beginning on December 2.
Sheriff Neilson asked Mr Urquhart: “I appreciate the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal’s Service (COPFS) can indict cases where they choose. But it would be helpful if the Crown can explain why this case has been indicted to Inverness.
“It doesn’t help the administration of justice for what appears to be a heavy sitting in December with 20 trials including custody trials.
“It also causes inconvenience for witnesses who in this case mostly all come from Aberdeen, Lossiemouth and Elgin.”
Mr Urquhart replied: “I am afraid I don’t have an explanation.”
Sheriff Neilson continued Stephen’s case to November 25.
The second case which had the COPFS under the spotlight involved 26 year old Allan MacLeod of Pheonix House, Croft 7, Hamilton Road, Balmacara.
He denies possessing indecent images of children and extreme pornographic images of women between August 20, 2009 and March 7, 2012.
Sheriff Neilson noted that this case and a trial from Shetland were also scheduled for Inverness in the coming months.
MacLeod’s case was continued until next March.