Trio accused of armed attack

Three men will face trial next month, accused of an armed attack on another man in a city centre flat with intent to rob him.

They are said to have repeatedly struck Mareusz Ciepala on the head with a weighted object and then brandished a knife at him.

Appearing in the dock at Perth Sheriff Court this week were 42-year-old James McMillan, of Soapwork Lane, Dundee, James Hume (26), of Nimmo Avenue, Perth, and 28-year-old Patrick McGinn, described as a prisoner at Perth.

It is alleged that on February 18, 2018, at a house in Kinnoull Street, all three assaulted Mr Ciepala and demanded money from him.

They are then said to have repeatedly kicked and punched him, hit him with the weight and brandished the blade at him to his injury, with intent to rob him.

McMillan and McGinn are said to have been on bail from the Perth court at the time - on February 2 and January 18, 2018, respectively.

The trio also faced a second charge of entering the property uninvited, shouting and acting in an aggressive manner and making violent threats.

A third charge alleges that McMillan had been granted bail from the Perth court on April 6 this year but then failed, without reasonable excuse, to appear on July 31, 2018.

Their trial, before a jury, will open on December 4 and is expected to last three or more days.