Police accused to stand trial

A MAN accused of the attempted murder of two police officers is to stand trial.

William Taylor, 43, allegedly attacked the pair with a knife when they were called to a home in Greenock, Renfrewshire, on June 1 to assist a doctor dealing with a mental health assessment.

Rookie officer PC Laura Sayer, 39, and PC Kenny MacKenzie, 43 – an officer for nine years – were taken to hospital.

Prosecutors allege Taylor struck PC MacKenzie on the head and body with a knife, leaving him scarred for life, and claim that he repeatedly struck PC Sayer on the body with a knife to her severe injury and permanent disfigurement.

Taylor was detained at the scene and held until last Monday, when he appeared at Greenock Sheriff Court to face four charges – two of attempted murder, one of behaving in a threatening or abusive way, and one of resisting arrest.

He returned to the dock yesterday and made no plea to the charges.

Taylor, from Greenock, was fully committed for trial during the hearing and was again remanded to the State Hospital in Carstairs, Lanarkshire.

No court dates have been set.