A 33-year-old Inverness man’s drugs trial made another piece of Scottish legal history by becoming the first criminal case to be held remotely.
Liam Macdonald, of Juniper Gardens, denied possessing cannabis resin in the city’s Union Street on January 4 last year.
Sheriff Gary Aitken presided at Inverness Sheriff Court in the new Inverness Justice Centre.
Prosecuter Niall Macdonald, defence lawyer John MacColl, the accused, two police witnesses and the Sheriff Clerk depute were all at different locations.
But all were connected via video links to the justice centre.
Sgt Roy Reid was first to give evidence and told the court that three or four stores in Inverness city centre had reported a man acting suspiciously and was suspected of shoplifting.
Sgt Reid said they all gave a similar description and on the way to Eastgate Centre with a colleague, they saw Macdonald.
He was stopped and searched and although no stolen property was found, a lump of cannabis resin was recovered.
The test report confirming the drug’s nature was then brought up on screen by the web host for Sgt Reid to agree it was done by him.
Mr MacColl raised an objection during Sgt Reid’s evidence that the officers had no grounds to search his client.
Sheriff Aitken said he would reserve consideration of it at the conclusion of the trial.
There was then a short 12 minute break before Constable Alexander MacRae gave evidence with Mr MacColl raising a similar objection.
However during cross-examination of Constable MacRae by Mr MacColl, the fiscal depute indicated to the Sheriff that Mr MacColl need not proceed with his questioning.
He then told the court that he was no longer proceeding against Mr Macdonald who was told he was free to go by the Sheriff.
So the first virtual criminal case ended without a conviction.
