Witness tells ‘Covid cough’ assault trial man was ‘ambushed’

A witness has told how his friend was “ambushed” outside a Dundee supermarket after being accused of coughing on an elderly woman.

Paul Booth, 29, was giving evidence in the trial of James Robertson, who denies stabbing a man after coughing on his mother-in-law at Iceland, Campfield Square Shopping Centre, Barnhill, last June.

Dundee Sheriff Court heard how Robertson and Mr Booth were walking past Nancy Fyffe, 71, and her twin daughters when they accused Robertson of coughing and laughing while saying “corona”.

Robertson has been accused of fighting with Jason Coull, 49, before leaving the scene and returning to stab him in the abdomen.

However, Mr Booth, of Perth, said that his friend was falsely accused by the group and watched as Robertson was “ambushed”.

When asked by defence solicitor Sarah Russo if he could remember Robertson coughing, Mr Booth said: “It was just by accident, it was a general cough. It was an honest mistake.

“I remember James got ambushed by two women and a man. He struck James on the face with his hands.”

Jurors were told how Robertson and Mr Coull were fighting on the ground which led to Laura Fyffe, Mr Coull’s partner, and her sister

Gemma intervening. Mr Booth said that he and a bloodied Robertson drove off but he quickly left the car in order to “clear his head”.

He told Ms Russo that he returned to Robertson’s grandmother’s house where they had been carrying out chores.

Fiscal depute Lora Apostolova questioned Mr Booth on the nature of the cough inside the shop and asked why he did not try to help his friend.

She said: “I have to suggest to you that you are telling the court lies about what you saw. You didn’t see your friend being ambushed, you knew he coughed sarcastically and deliberately.

“You also saw him in a fight and he was on top of Mr Coull. Two women had to go and intervene.”

Mr Booth replied: “That’s not true. That didn’t happen.”

In earlier evidence, Mr Coull said he been left “traumatised” by the stabbing which occurred during the second fight with Robertson.

Mr Coull required two stitches in the side of his body and was released from Ninewells Hospital that day with painkillers.

He said: “I’ve been traumatised a wee bit.

“I get counselling and tablets. I’m still kind of shocked, I don’t go out to pubs or things like that.

“I’m just a bit more withdrawn.”

The trial before Sheriff Grant Mcculloch continues.

Police at the scene of the incident.