Football fan accused of attempted murder

A football fan accused of attempting to murder a man by hitting him with his car has told a trial he “never saw him”.

Michael Scott is on trial at the High Court in Aberdeen accused of attempting to murder Graeme Hardie by driving into him outside the Staging Post pub in Bucksburn on July 11 last year.

Mr Hardie, 58, was seriously injured and now needs a wheelchair.

The court previously heard Scott and Mr Hardie had been in the pub while the World Cup semi-final between England and Croatia was on TV and that an argument had broken out.

Yesterday, Scott told the court he had begun to drive away after being asked to leave the pub.

The 35-year-old said he then returned because he realised his friends were still inside, and stopped the car outside to try to look in through the window.

Scott said he saw Mr Hardie’s friend, Steven Forrest, heading for the door and that he seemed “the most aggressive” so decided to move away.

Defence counsel Bill Adam asked: “Where are you looking when you’re moving forward?”

Scott said: “My attention was on the pub to check if anyone was coming out. I was a little bit in fear.”

However, advocate depute William FrainBell put to Scott evidence given by Christine Bruce previously, who witnessed the collision while walking her dog.

He said: “She turned round and she saw Graeme

Hardie in the middle of the road. The next thing she saw was you driving straight into him. She could see that but you couldn’t see him.”

Scott replied: “I never saw him.”

Scott is also accused of dangerous driving while intoxicated and with failing to provide breath samples.

Scott is further accused of behaving in a racially aggravated threatening or abusive manner in the pub.

The trial, before Lord Uist, continues.