City council chief’s tears over threat
Council leader breaks down during alleged stalker’s trial
Glasgow City Council leader Susan Aitken breaks down as she tells court of death threat.
THE leader of Glasgow City Council broke down in court yesterday as she told how she was shown a letter making a “death threat” against her.
Susan Aitken, 46, also revealed that concerns for her safety meant she has stopped using public transport.
She told Glasgow Sheriff Court: “It has been very tense.”
Aitken was giving evidence at the trial of Amanda McCutcheon, 46, who is accused of stalking her between January and March this year.
The SNP politician told the BY ASHLIE McANALLY reporters@dailyrecord.co.uk court she was “quite disturbed” after a member of staff showed her the letter on January 30.
The court heard it was signed by an Amanda McCutcheon. It mentioned problems she had with the house she lived in and her anger at not being given suitable alternatives.
It included the phrase: “I was wondering if you have a death wish.” Aitken said she didn’t see any other way of interpreting it except as a death threat.
She told the court after a second incident in February, which “appeared” to involve the writer of the letter, it “became clear it wasn’t a one-off ”.
Later that month, she was on her way back to Glasgow by train when a member of staff told her she would be met at the platform.
Aitken said she was told: “Don’t go anywhere on your own.”
She said since then she hasn’t used public transport and has had colleagues attend her councillor surgeries with her.
Aitken told the court she was also made aware of social media posts by McCutcheon and read some of the comments.
She said: “It was very clear this person seemed to hate me in a very personal way and wished me harm.”
McCutcheon, from Dennistoun, Glasgow, denies the charge.
The trial continues.