John Birrell, pictured, died in August 2020 and Hamish Towler is to stand trial.
A retired surgeon is to stand trial charged with killing an Inverness garage owner.
Hamish Towler is accused of the culpable homicide of John Birrell at a road in Blackpark, Inverness, on August 17 2020.
Prosecutors allege the 66-year-old obstructed the van Mr Birrell was travelling in to block it passing.
Towler, a former consultant ophthalmologist, is then said to have hit the vehicle with a dog lead before pulling the 55-year-old out.
The charge claims Mr Birrell was pushed across the road, punched, then smacked on the face with the leash.
Towler, from Inverness, is further accused of shouting and swearing at him.
Police at the scene of John Birrell’s death
It is stated Mr Birrell suffered a cardiac arrest and died as a result.
Mr Birrell was a well-known businessman who operated a garage, Birrell’s MoT and Service Centre and the adjoining business, North Coast Customs, in the city’s Carse Industrial Estate.
The case called today at the High Court in Glasgow where Towler’s legal team pled not guilty on his behalf.
Prosecutor Bill McVicar said he was ready for a trial to be fixed.
Lord Braid set a trial date to begin on October 31 in Inverness.
