A man has denied killing his own son in a freak accident in the Highlands.
Andrew Tetsill appeared at Inverness Sheriff Court yesterday charged with causing the death of 21-year-old Craig by careless driving more than a year ago.
It is alleged that Mr Tetsill was cycling when he was in collision with a pick-up truck driven by his father.
Tetsill desperately tried to save his son by giving him cardiopulmonary resuscitation, with help from a local retained firefighter.
However, the young man died at the scene, on an unclassified road leading to Wester Aberchalder, east of Loch Ness.
Tetsill, 42, of 27 Fairlie Drive, Camelon, Falkirk, appeared in the dock at Inverness Sheriff Court yesterday and denied causing death by careless driving.
It is alleged he overtook his son’s pedal cycle at a point where it was unsafe to do so, knocking him off the bike.
Tetsill’s wife sat in court as her husband confirmed through his lawyer, Rory Gowans, that he was pleading not guilty.
Mr Gowans told Sheriff David Sutherland he was seeking more time to prepare his case.
It is expected that a total of nine prosecution witnesses will be called at the trial which has now been fixed for December 17.
An intermediate diet will be held a month prior to that on November 18 to establish if the defence are ready.
The father and son had been working for contractor George Leslie in the months leading up to the tragedy, laying water pipes around the area.
At the time of the accident, Tetsill said: “I have lost my son. It was a tragic accident.”
Friends also posted tributes online to the 21-year-old.
One wrote: “So scary what’s round the corner”, and another: “You will be missed by many, many people. You were always a happy man that constantly smiled and enjoyed life.”
