Teenager intervened in street attack, trial hears

Girl, 15, describes standing in front of car during attack to stop man being run over

A 15-year-old girl described how she stood in front of a car to stop its driver deliberately running over a man on a Dundee street during a savage attack.

The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was giving evidence in the trial of Marti Boi Stewart, who is accused of striking Kenneth Rammage with a car.

Stewart, 27, of St Boswell’s Terrace, denies that, acting with others, he hit Mr Rammage with the vehicle twice, as well as attacking him with metal poles, all to his severe injury, permanent disfigurement and permanent impairment.

Stewart’s solicitor, Kevin Hampton, said there was no doubt the complainer was assaulted but maintained it was not his client who had committed the offence.

A number of witnesses gave evidence at Dundee Sheriff Court yesterday, describing how they saw Mr Rammage being struck by a red Volkswagen on St Kilda Road on January 6.

Taking to the witness stand, the teenager said: “People got out of the car, Marti was one of them.

“They started shouting and hit him (Mr Rammage) with something metal.

“I pulled one of the guys back. He lifted the metal pole as if to hit me. I said ‘go for it then’.”

The girl described how the car hit Mr Rammage on the leg and as he fell to the ground, the vehicle struck him a second time.

She added: “I stood in front of the car to stop it hitting him again.

“I kicked the car. It reversed and screamed down the road.”

The court heard nearby residents then came out of their homes, providing towels to stem the bleeding from Mr Rammage’s head.

He had sustained cuts to his head, severe bruising on his leg, a fractured knee joint and had to have surgery – including 26 staples and three stitches – as well as a permanent metal plate and screws in his knee.

The court was told that, prior to the incident, there had been another disturbance on nearby St Nicholas Place involving Mr Rammage.

Witness Kimberley Anderson said she heard him shouting “Marti you big fat b ****** , come out here”.

Giving evidence, Mr Rammage denied he had lost his temper despite having previously pled guilty to behaving in a threatening manner in relation to the incident.

“There had been a prior argument with a guy and I had gone to apologise to him.

“He slammed the door on us and I left.”

The court was told there were inconsistencies in Mr Rammage’s statements to police, as he had initially said the accused did not attack him but later changed his statement.

The trial continues.