News In Focus
23 February 2010
Trial to run in 10-minute shifts
A sheriff court trial is to be heard 10 minutes at a time, because the accused is said to be unable to concentrate for longer due to his abuse of alcohol.
Michael Dickson, a former Northern Ireland police officer, is due to go on trial at Inverness Sheriff Court tomorrow, charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice by making a false accusation of being assaulted by police in 2007. Yesterday the court was told that 10 trial dates have been set so far because Dickson has mental health issues arising from alcohol-induced brain damage.
Defence advocate Duncan McPhie said Dickson's attention span and memory were short. "If there are bursts of 10 minutes of activity with five-minute breaks, then three or four days will be required." A consultant psychologist had reported that his condition was worsening.
Sheriff Andrew Berry said the trial should go ahead despite Mr McPhie's request for more time to study the psychologist's report, but admitted it might be “a lengthy process”.