A man has been found guilty of what he described as “a little bit of a dirty protest” and writing “kill all cops” in his own excrement on the walls of a police cell.
Jonathan Murray committed the disgusting act at Kittybrewster police station on October 6 2019.
Police had earlier been called to A&E at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary after Murray, 54, began rolling around on the floor, refused to get back into his bed and became abusive towards stuff.
He also spat at security guards and a female police officer, crowing “got you, b****”.
Murray chose to represent himself during the trial – although at one point had to be told by Sheriff Andrew Miller that he wasn’t allowed to shout at the witnesses.
‘He started spitting blood at us’
Studying the charges against him before the trial began at Aberdeen Sheriff Court, Murray commented: “There’s an awful lot of lies here. Spitting at someone, that’s a disgrace. That’s lies.”
The court heard evidence from ARI security guards Barry Black and James Robb, who told fiscal depute Victoria Kerr they having coffee in their office when they were called through to assist staff.
Mr Black described Murray as “crawling around the floor” and “being abusive towards staff, shouting and swearing”.
He said they tried to assist him back into bed but he “started struggling violently with us”.
The witness said Murray tried to hit them and had to be restrained on the floor but then spat at Mr Robb.
As a result, Murray was rolled over onto his front, in the course of which he sustained an injury and his nose began to bleed.
Mr Black said: “He started spitting blood at us.”
Cross-examining the witness, Murray said: “You were trying to provoke me.
“You were staring at me, weren’t you? You pulled me out of the bed, didn’t you? You assaulted me.”
Mr Black said: “No I didn’t.”
Murray then asked: “How did I manage to spit at you if I was in a headlock face down?”
The witness said: “You were face up when you were initially restrained.”
Murray retorted: “No I wasn’t. You’re lying. You’re totally lying.”
Turning to the sheriff, he said: “I’m finished with this witness.”
‘You’re wrong there, but I won’t hold it against you’
When Mr Robb gave evidence broadly supportive of Mr Black’s, Murray told him: “I’m going to say that you’re a liar.”
PC Robyn Collie was next to give evidence, telling the court she arrived at ARI to find Murray already being restrained and shouting “pretty much every swear word you can think of”.
PC Collie said it took four people to wheel Murray out of the ward in a wheelchair while he was “spitting in every direction”.
She added: “The spit landed on my arm and he said ‘got you, b****’.”
Murray asked the witness if he was wearing a spit hood when he was taken out of the hospital and she said he was.
He replied: “No I wasn’t, I’m afraid. You’re wrong there, but I won’t hold it against you.”
‘It’s a shameful event that happened’
The final witness, DC Scott Leslie, was given the task of monitoring Murray on CCTV at Kittybrewster station.
Ms Kerr asked him what Murray did while in the cell.
He said: “He urinated and defecated within the corner of the cell.
“He used his own faecal matter to write ‘kill all cops’ on the wall.
“He pushed it into the viewing area in the door, the serving hatch, and the intercom system.”
The court was then shown disturbing CCTV images of Murray’s foul behaviour, in which he repeatedly turned to look at the camera and shout “f*** you”.
Cross-examining the detective, Murray put it to him that he hadn’t been offered any water or toilet paper while in the cell.
Security guard ‘provoked the whole situation’
He added: “That’s why I did a little bit of a dirty protest. I found myself frustrated by the disgraceful way I was treated.”
In his closing speech, Murray said: “It’s a shameful event that happened which I truly regret.
“It’s out of my character. Although my medication did change my personality at the time, I’m not going to put that down as an excuse.”
Murray also said Mr Black had behaved in a “disgraceful manner” and “provoked the whole situation”.
He added: “I do apologise to the court for the waste of time this has been.”
Sheriff Miller found Murray, of Ruthrieston Gardens, Aberdeen, guilty of all five charges against him, three of assault and two of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner.
He branded Murray’s behaviour “appalling”, adding: “Constable Leslie had the misfortune of having to enter that cell to remove you in light of what you rather lightly dismiss as a ‘rather dirty protest’.”
The sheriff deferred sentence until November for reports.
As he left the dock, Murray said: “Apologies for the disgraceful behaviour.”
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