Doctor pleads guilty over firearm haul

● Consultant had laptop with ‘how to kill someone’ internet search

A retired doctor caught with a haul of firearms allegedly searched for “how to kill someone” on his laptop before a police raid, a court has heard.

Martin Watt, 62, is on trial accused of possessing firearms with intent to endanger life. Mr Watt denies the charge. He has, however, pleaded guilty to possessing firearms including three sub-machine guns, two Valtro self-loading pistols and a silencer.

Watt, from Cumbernauld, North Lanarkshire, is on trial for using submachine guns and pistols to endanger life between March 2013 and May 2017.

He denies this but admits having in his possession most of the firearms the police found at the house in Condorrat.

Jurors were read a joint minute that detailed the firearms, ammunition and all other items found during the search.

Advocate depute Alex Prentice said that between 18 and 20 May, at an address at Maree Drive, Cumbernauld, police searched and recovered a number of items belong- ing to Watt. He listed the various firearms, ammunition and other items found in the search, including three Skorpion submachine guns and two self loading pistols.

Mr Prentice said a laptop belonging to Watt was examined and on it were 656 images including firearms, firearm parts, diagrams relating to the making of explosive devices and pictures of people.

He said the internet history of the laptop was found to contain searches on individuals involved in Watt’s dismissal hearings, how to kill someone and how to break someone’s neck, among others.

PC Mcleod was shown an envelope that was recovered from Watt’s room that had “Bad Guys” written on it.

Inside there were names and addresses, some of which PC Mcleod were significant after liaising with NHS Lanarkshrie.

Mr Prentice: “Was there some names linked to the disciplinary process itself?”

PC Mcleod replied: “Yes, sir.”

The trial before judge Lady Stacey continues.