Man was ‘grinning about pole attack’

A court heard yesterday that a man accused of beating someone with a pole was said by a friend to have been “grinning” about it shortly afterwards.

The friend Brett Webster said: “I think he was a little glad he had done it and was not remorseful to start with.”

Wick Sheriff Court heard, previously, that the victim, Ewan Macdonald, was so badly injured in the attack in Kennedy Terrace, Wick, that he had to hold onto a wall as he struggled down the street before collapsing.

Mr Macdonald, 27, who was working in Wick at the time, needed two operations and the incident shook his confidence and personality.

Barnetson, 21, of 37 Kinnaird Street, Wick, denies on indictment, assaulting Mr Macdonald to his severe injury and permanent disfigurement and permanent impairment.

Mr Macdonald had been out socialising in Wick on the night in question, June 26, last year and had been invited back to a house in Kennedy Terrace, by a woman. He was attacked as he left the house and ended up in hospital. Mr Macdonald was off work for an initial five months and has only limited use of his right arm.

Mr Webster, 23, said the accused told him he had struck the man on the back of the head, and when he fell over, had kicked and punched him on the

“I think he was a little glad he had done it and wasn’t sorry”

ground. The court heard, previously, from another witness Keira Macleod. The 21-year-old carer had been trying to get to sleep in the upstairs bedroom of her home in Kennedy Terrace when she heard a metallic noise. Looking out of her window she saw a man she recognised as Barnetson repeatedly hitting another man on the ground with a iron bar.

The trial continues.