Nwicker60
13-Jun-13, 18:19
Alleged to have "barked like a dog" at teenage bus passenger
A PSYCHIATRIST, requiring an assessment on a man alleged to have obstructed female passengers on a bus and barked at one of them like a dog, was unable to carry out the examination as he didn’t feel safe in the accused’s company.
The problem was revealed by Zoe MacDonnell, the solicitor representing Alexander McPhee, 45, at Wick Sheriff Court today. Now an alternative venue to the accused’s home is to be sought, to enable the court to decide whether he is sane and fit to proceed with the case.
McPhee, of 33 Cairndhuna Terrace, Wick, previously recorded a not guilty plea to three charges of threatening or abusive behaviour on a public service bus and a psychiatric report was requested by Sheriff Andrew Berry.
McPhee is alleged to have struck up unwelcome conversations with four teenage girls on the bus travelling between Wick and Thurso, last October, gave one of them such a strong handshake that it cause her pain, repeatedly touched another of them on her head, stroked her hair and barked at her in a dog-like manner and forced the girls to squeeze past him in order to get off the bus.
Ms MacDonnell informed the court that the report requested, was not available as the psychiatrist had not been able to conduct his examination at McPhee’s home and added: “The accused’s behaviour towards him made him feel unsafe.”
She added: “I can’t get instructions and don’t know if he is sane and fit to plead.”
David Barclay, prosecuting, suggested that an appropriate alternative venue for the assessment might be found.
The sheriff continued the case until tomorrow to allow the possibility to be investigated and stressed the importance of the assessment being obtained.
A PSYCHIATRIST, requiring an assessment on a man alleged to have obstructed female passengers on a bus and barked at one of them like a dog, was unable to carry out the examination as he didn’t feel safe in the accused’s company.
The problem was revealed by Zoe MacDonnell, the solicitor representing Alexander McPhee, 45, at Wick Sheriff Court today. Now an alternative venue to the accused’s home is to be sought, to enable the court to decide whether he is sane and fit to proceed with the case.
McPhee, of 33 Cairndhuna Terrace, Wick, previously recorded a not guilty plea to three charges of threatening or abusive behaviour on a public service bus and a psychiatric report was requested by Sheriff Andrew Berry.
McPhee is alleged to have struck up unwelcome conversations with four teenage girls on the bus travelling between Wick and Thurso, last October, gave one of them such a strong handshake that it cause her pain, repeatedly touched another of them on her head, stroked her hair and barked at her in a dog-like manner and forced the girls to squeeze past him in order to get off the bus.
Ms MacDonnell informed the court that the report requested, was not available as the psychiatrist had not been able to conduct his examination at McPhee’s home and added: “The accused’s behaviour towards him made him feel unsafe.”
She added: “I can’t get instructions and don’t know if he is sane and fit to plead.”
David Barclay, prosecuting, suggested that an appropriate alternative venue for the assessment might be found.
The sheriff continued the case until tomorrow to allow the possibility to be investigated and stressed the importance of the assessment being obtained.