Court hearing deferred

A PENSIONER who was asked his name in court on Tuesday morning was unable to answer, and therefore the sheriff deemed him unable to stand trial accused of a sexual offence until he had a hearing test.

The unusual course of events came about after the defendant, who cannot be named for legal reasons, answered, ‘What?’ when Sheriff John Herald, at the Oban court, asked his name.

When the man was further asked to confirm that he could hear his own defence agent when he spoke into a microphone, he said: ‘Eh? I can’t hear you.’

When asked if he would take a hearing test, he told his defence agent that he did not need one.

Sheriff Herald said: ‘I am not sure you are fit to stand trial. I would like a medical assessment from your GP to tell the court he believes you understand what is going on in court and that you can hear what is happening.’

The man answered the sheriff by asking what he had said to him and asking the court to confirm the date of his next court appearance.