BREAKING NEWS: Jury say case against retired eye surgeon is not proven
Published: 13:00, 17 November 2022
| Updated: 13:26, 17 November 2022
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The jury has returned a not proven verdict in the trial of a surgeon accused of causing the death of his neighbour.
Hamish Towler (67) has been in the dock at the High Court in Inverness accused of the culpable homicide of John Birrell.
Prosecutors claimed the 55-year-old garage owner died due to a “cardiac event” after he was assaulted by Towler on August 17, 2020.
Jurors heard evidence that the two had been arguing on the day in question after Towler blocked a van that Mr Birrell was in with his son Jake.
The incident took place near their homes in the Blackpark area of Inverness.
Towler has admitted hitting Mr Birrell with a dog leash but claimed it was in self-defence.
