Accused denies he threw knife

A MENZIESHILL man charged with attacking a woman at a printing shop and throwing a knife will stand trial later this year.

Abdul Latif is also alleged to have destroyed CCTV footage in a bid to defeat the ends of justice during the same incident at Quick Prints & Signs, Old Brechin Road, Forfar, on July 2.

The Yarrow Terrace man appeared from custody at Dundee Sheriff Court to plead not guilty to the four charges he faces.

Latif allegedly assaulted the woman by repeatedly pushing her on the body, throwing a laptop and other items at her, seizing her neck, holding her against a wall, pushing her on the body and causing her to fall to the ground.

He allegedly behaved in a threatening or abusive manner by acting aggressively, holding and throwing a knife as well as shouting.

It is also alleged that Latif caused damage to a mobile phone by throwing it.The 36-year-old also denies attempting to defeat the ends of justice by deleting and destroying CCTV footage within the shop.

After pleading not guilty, Sheriff Alastair Carmichael fixed a trial for December before releasing Latif on bail with conditions to sign on at police headquarters three days a week.

TRIBUTES have been paid to Dundee’s “best ever” singer, Joe Dailly, who died after a short illness in hospital.

Although he also fronted city band Manifesto, Joe was best known as lead singer with Pheldespar, one of Dundee’s top bands in the 1970s.

Pheldespar enjoyed huge success in pubs and clubs in Dundee and further afield over a 20-year period.

At one point they auditioned for Opportunity Knocks and won Battle of the Bands at the Caird Hall.

Paying tribute to her dad, Joe’s daughter, Lynne said: “My dad was Dundee’s best entertainer and singer ever.

“He was just so, so good and was incredibly popular and well loved.”

Lynne said that Joe, 66, from Foggyley, died at Ninewells Hospital on June 28.

He had suffered from diabetes for some time and had been in hospital for treatment for the condition when he became unwell and eventually unconscious.

He died a week later in Ward 5 – the same ward he himself had worked in after changing career to train as a nurse.

Lynne said: “Dad sang all his life. He won a Leng silver medal when he was at primary school and a Leng gold medal while at St Michael’s High School in Dundee.”

Joe and his brother, John formed Pheldespar and the band played Dundee clubs including Lochee United, and the Electricity Club in Guthrie Street.

John said: “We played together for about five years before splitting up but we got back together sometime later and played for another 20 years.

“We thought we did pretty well at the Opportunity Knocks audition, but we didn’t get on.

“We were delighted when we won £400 for winning the Battle of the Bands competition.”

John said that, as well as singing, Joe also played the guitar and keyboards.

Joe’s widow, Vivien, said: “When I first heard Joe singing Bridge Over Troubled Water I knew then that we would get married.”

She said: “I heard him singing that song and I said then I was going to have him – and I did.

“He was so good. His version of Bohemian Rhapsody was incredible.”

Lynne told the Tele her dad grew up in Fintry and worked in the jute industry before becoming a porter in Arnotts department store.

She said: “After he left the bands my dad trained as a nurse. He worked at Strathmartine Hospital and Royal Victoria before moving to Ninewells.

“He was forced to give up work a few years ago after he had his finger bitten by a cat and developed gangrene.”

She said: “My dad was a lovely, easy going man who was much loved and just wanted everyone else to have a happy life too.”