Accused pair enter claim of self-defence

THE charges faced by both accused – Adam Valentine and Wes Reid – allege that, while acting together, the pair assaulted Brian Fox and punched him on the head, causing him to strike his head on the ground and again punched him on the head and killed him.

Valentine faces a host of other charges of assault and disorderly conduct on the night of January 1 – while both men are accused of conducting themselves in a disorderly manner by overturning a bin, swinging from an awning, shouting, swearing, making threats of violence, repeatedly striking a vehicle and committing a breach of the peace.

Valentine is accused of assaulting Connell Owen Grieve by grabbing him by the clothing, and of assaulting Graeme Dow Allen by punching him on the head, causing him to hit it on a car door and then punching him repeatedly.

Valentine is also accused of further assaults on Sandra Jean Baird, Kenneth Smith Simpson, Katie Elise Muir and Alexander Ross Bowman.

Valentine is further accused of, while acting with another, assaulting Amy Elaine McFadyen by seizing her by the hair, punching her on the head and knocking her to the ground, as well as repeatedly punching and kicking her on the head and body, all to her injury.

Each has entered a special defence of selfdefence in relation to separate charges.

The trial is being heard in front of judge

Lord Beckett at the High Court in Edinburgh and is expected to last well into next week as evidence is given.