A man has gone on trial accused of attempting to murder the partner of a woman who was set to give evidence against him.
Anthony Higgins is alleged to have used a knife in an attack on Darren Beattie, known as Carr, on September 12 2017 at a car park on Shiprow in the city centre.
He is accused of assaulting him, challenging him to fight, threatening him and repeatedly striking him on the body with a knife to his severe injury, permanent disfigurement and danger of life and attempting to murder him.
The 34-year-old is further accused of calling Sarah Algie, who was going to be a witness against him in a separate matter, a “grass” at Aberdeen Sheriff Court on the same day.
He is also accused of having a knife in public, assaulting another man by punching him on the head and attempting to pervert the course of justice by disposing of a jacket and a knife.
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Higgins, of Worsley Crescent, Sparrowhill, Liverpool, denies all charges and has lodged special defences of self defence and incrimination.
Yesterday, as the trial began at the High Court in Aberdeen, inset, evidence was given by Ms Algie, who said she had been in a relationship with Mr Beattie prior to the trial.
Asked by advocate depute Eric Robertson about going to court on that day in 2017, she said she had gone with her parents, adding: “Darren Beattie also came with me for support.”
Mr Robertson asked her if anything had come to her attention while in the witness room.
She said Higgins had come to the room’s glass door and said something, adding: “I could kind of lip read ‘you’re getting it’.
“I didn’t hear it because the door was closed.
“As soon as I saw him I looked the other way.”
The trial, before Lord Uist and a jury of eight women and seven men, continues.
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