The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Man denies armed home raid
Court: Woman and two children held at gunpoint, jury hears
A man has gone on trial accused of holding a woman and two children at gunpoint during a raid on a homein a remote Highland village.
Ali Akguc, 36, appeared in the dock at the High Court in Aberdeen yesterday accused of carrying out
“Threatened to shoot woman and the children if they did not hand over cash”
the armed robbery in Drumnadrochit on December 6 last year.
It is alleged the he masked his face before he forced his way into a house on Coiltie Crescent, Kilmore, armed with what looked like a gun.
Prosecutors state that he then assaulted Lisa Ann Cetiner and the two children in her care by forcing them to sit on the floor.
It is claimed Akguc then threatened to shoot Mrs Cetiner and the children if they did not hand over cash, before making off with £3,165. Akguc denies the allegations and a jury of 11 men and four women were empanelled before Lord Burns yesterday.
The court heard that originally plans were set in place for the trial to start today, so no witnesses were available to give evidence yesterday. Instead a joint minute of agreed facts was read out to the court.
Jurors heard that throughout the trial they will be shown pictures of silver Volkswagen Passat which was owned by the accused.
They will also be played recordings of the 999 call made at about 10 pm on December 6 by Mrs Cetiner.
Jurors were told that the two children involved, who cannot be named for legal reasons, have already given evidence and been crossexamined. This process has been video recorded and will be shown to the court during the trial.