A man accused of two attempted murders with a chainsaw is to remain in custody despite being freed on bail by a sheriff in a Highland court.
The sheriff’s decision last week was overruled by the bail appeal court in Edinburgh yesterday .
James Macdonald was granted bail by Sheriff Gordon Fleetwood when he appeared in private on petition at Inverness Sheriff Court on Thursday.
But prosecutors appealed against the sheriff’s decision so Macdonald was remanded in custody until the appeal could be heard.
And the Edinburgh court yesterday granted the Crown appeal, which meant Macdonald must remain in custody until his next court appearance, the date of which has yet to be set.
The 48-year-old, of Fort William, faces two charges of attempted murder and another of a breach of the peace.
Emergency services were alerted to a disturbance in Glenkingie Street, Caol, at around 8.30pm on July 19.
Raymond Macpherson, 73, underwent an 11-hour operation in a Glasgow hospital to save his arm after being badly injured in the incident at his home.
He was treated for injuries to his torso and arm.
His 63-year-old wife Flora also suffered injuries to her hand and arm.
She was taken to the Belford Hospital in Fort William but released after treatment.
