Alleged knife threat left two teenage car passengers 'scared', Inverness Sheriff Court hears.
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A teenage boy was threatened by a man with a knife after a 'road rage' type incident during the winter of 2019, a court was told.
The 16 year old was 14 at the time and had just returned from a cadet camp with a pal of the same age.
The boy told a jury at Inverness Sheriff Court that his father had picked the pair up and was returning his friend home to Smithton when another car "cut us off" at the Raigmore interchange on February 10.
Daniel Kelly, (30) was a passenger in the other vehicle being driven by a woman and they followed the father to the Spar car park in Barn Church Road, the boy went on.
Kelly denies possession of a knife and threatening behaviour by brandishing a knife and making threats towards the two teenagers. He has pleaded guilty to possession of heroin and a Class C drug called Buprenorphine when he was arrested and searched in Burnett Road Police Station two days after the alleged incident.
The boy said his father and Kelly exchanged abusive gestures as they went on to the A96. Verbal abuse continued in the car park, the boy went on.
He told fiscal depute Alex Swain: "My dad was going into the shop and he was giving him verbal abuse. I opened the door of the car to listen and he asked what was I laughing about and something about me being cheeky. I was just laughing.
"Then he leaned under the seat and pulled out a kitchen knife with a blade about four or five inches long. He made a threat towards me and my friend. I can't remember exactly but I remember hearing the word 'kill.' He was aggressive and I was pretty scared. Then he got back in his car and left."
CCTV was shown to the jury and the witness was cross examined by defence solicitor Lauren Aitchison.
The teenager accepted that it was a road rage incident initially and his evidence was "completely different" to the CCTV. It showed Kelly remaining in his vehicle but leaning out of it. He also accepted he told police shortly after the confrontation that Kelly had taken the knife from his waist.
He denied he was exaggerating the incident.
"It was two years ago. I said today what I can remember." the boy said.
Ms Aitchison asked him if a knife could be seen on the CCTV.
He replied: "I can't see a knife but I wasn't looking for one on the CCTV."
In re-examination by Ms Swain, the boy said: "I am positive he had a knife."
The trial continues.
