Inverness man denies attempted murder charge for alleged frenzied New Year’s Day attack on his mother
A 78-year-old woman was strangled by her son in a frenzied attack at her home in Smithton on New Year's Day last year, it has been alleged.
In the dock at the High Court in Inverness is 52-year-old Bruce Davis who has been accused of attempting to murder Thomasina McAskill in Smithton Villas.
He will face a jury trial which is likely to last at least three days.
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The indictment he denies states he repeatedly kicked her on the body, seized her by the hair, restrained her, threw household furniture at her, pulled her jumper over her head and strangled her, then repeatedly punched her, all to her severe injury, and permanent impairment to the danger of her life and attempted to murder her.
Davis, who is on remand at Saughton Prison in Edinburgh, faces a second charge of threatening or abusive behaviour in that he repeatedly shouted, swore, acted aggressively and in a disorderly fashion and damaged household furniture on January 1.
The trial, before Lord Summers, opened with a statement of agreed evidence between the prosecution, led by advocate depute Shahid Latif and defence counsel Graeme Brown.
Mr Latif told the jury that Davis made a 999 call at 4.02pm on January 1 which was followed up by a second call from an unnamed person at 5.28pm.
The court heard that Mrs McAskill survived the attack but had died since the alleged incident. However she had made statements to the police, which will be read to the jury.
It was not disputed that her injuries, although not life-threatening, had the potential to lead to complications, medical experts decided.
Her entire body was covered in bruises; she had two broken ribs, a lung obstruction, and a fracture to the left side of her jaw and two broken bones in her left leg.
A broken table leg was seized from the scene by police.
The trial was adjourned for the day on Wednesday afternoon due to police witness difficulties and resumes on Thursday. However the jury was told it would also rise early on that day and not resume until Tuesday.
Lord Summers said he was required in Edinburgh on Friday and the court was closed on Monday due to a local holiday.
