Man denies knife threats after car row

A Hamilton man went on trial this week charged with threatening to kill a pal and his father while brandishing a knife.

Dylan Edwards, of Brandon Street, is also alleged to have thrown a plant pot through a Volkswagen car owned by Luke Cushley’s dad Paul at Marswood Green early on Hogmanay last year.

Edwards (20) denied charges of behaving in a threatening and abusive manner; malicious damage; possessing a knife in a public place and assaulting Luke and Paul Cushley to their injury. It is alleged that the assaults involved Edwards attempting to strike the men with a knife and trying to bite them.

Edwards lodged special defences of incrimination and self defence, alleging that the car had been damaged by Dillon Horne and that he had been assaulted by the Cushleys who had ran at him, hit him with their hands and feet, causing him to fall to the ground, and continued punching and kicking him before restraining him.

Giving evidence on Tuesday, the first day of the trial, witness Caitlin Mclaughlin told the court she had been at 34 Marswood Green, where her boyfriend Luke Cushley and his dad Paul lived, early on December 30 last year. Paul and Luke Cushley, Dillon Horne and Dylan Edwards were also there. Hairdresser Ms Mclaughlin (19) said while she had not been drinking, the others were. Questioned by fiscal depute Paula Russell she said the atmosphere was “fine” but deteriorated due to the amount of alcohol consumed.

She said an argument took place between Mr Cushley senior and Edwards over a bathroom light not being switched off. However, she could not recall the words used or their tone.

Ms Mclaughlin went into the kitchen, leaving the others in the living room. Edwards, she said, was sitting on a couch drinking.

While in the kitchen she heard loud voices, but could not remember what was said. She said she later saw Horne and Edwards being ushered out the house by Paul Cushley.

After they left, she heard a thud coming from the front of the property. When she looked outside she noticed that the windscreen of Paul Cushley’s car had been smashed, but did not see anyone in the vicinity. Mr Cushley went out to look at the vehicle and came back upstairs she said.

Ms Russell asked her who the next person to enter the flat was. She replied: “Dylan, but I didn’t see him.”

From the living room she could identify the voices of Paul and Luke Cushley, but did not know the identity of a third voice which, she said, shouted ‘I have got a knife’ a couple of times.

She said she also heard Luke Cushley shouting: ‘Get out’.

Ms Mclaughlin said she was hiding behind a couch and called the police. Ms Russell asked her what prompted her to call the police and she replied: “When things got worse.”

Alerted by blue lights outside, she said, she got up and ran towards the front door area. Looking into the bathroom she saw Luke Cushley standing with his back to her and the sound of mumbling coming from the room.

When she got to the front door she estimated there were eight officers in attendance.

The trial before Sheriff Thomas Millar was continuing yesterday (Wednesday).