A 24-year-old Inverness man who inflicted a double jaw fracture in a broad daylight attack on a pensioner “because he felt like it” will be sentenced next month.
Zeke McKnight, of Woodlands Brae, Inverness, was found guilty by a jury’s majority yesterday at Inverness Sheriff Court of the unprovoked assault on 73-year-old Gordon Moggach by punching him on the face to his severe injury.
The trial heard that retired accountant Mr Moggach, now aged 75, was out for an evening stroll when he was attacked a short distance from his home near Kingsmills Road.
Retired accountant suffers double fracture to jaw after attack in Inverness
Neither Mr Moggach or an eye witness could identify him as the assailant.
However they were able to give a description of him which tied in with other witnesses who had seen McKnight in the area at the time around 5.30pm on March 16 last year.
All described him as tall, slim, in early 20s, wearing a blue anorak and dark jeans, carrying a backpack.
Inverness Sheriff Court was told the pensioner asked why McKnight had done it and the reply was: “Because I felt like it.”
The accountant then followed McKnight for a short distance before he was warned he would be hurt more if he continued.
Mr Moggach was initially treated in Raigmore Hospital, Inverness, but underwent surgery in Aberdeen the following day for a metal plate to be inserted in his jaw.
Minutes after, McKnight, still wearing the blue anorak and carrying a backpack entered Crown Stores further down Kingsmills Road wanting to buy a bottle of Buckfast.
The shop assistant who served him was able to give his name as they had asked him for ID to prove his age.
Then two other witnesses also came forward to police within 24 hours, and identified McKnight’s photograph as the drunk man they had seen walking towards Kingsmills Road through nearby Lochiel Road and Eriskay Road at the relevant time.
Sentence was deferred until September 6 for a background report – although Sheriff Eilidh Macdonald did not require one as McKnight had served a period of custody previously for another serious assault.
Defence solicitor Clare Russell said she would reserve any comments until then.
