Hamilton Man is cleared of bottle attack

Jul 17 2008 by Alastair McNeill, Hamilton Advertiser

Man is cleared of bottle attack

A HAMILTON man told a court last week he was hit on the head with a bottle as he stepped out the back door of a house while attending a party.

Labourer Scott Tervit (27), said however he did not know who was responsible for the attack which was alleged to have taken place at 40 Spey Gardens in the town on September 16, 2006.

On the first day of a trial at Hamilton Sheriff Court last Thursday, Kevin Burns pleaded not guilty to a charge of assaulting Mr Tervit along with a charge of failing to appear for sheriff and jury proceedings.

Burns, of 16 Clyde View, Hamilton, also lodged a special defence stating that he had been attacked by Mr Tervit and was acting in self defence.

The charge stated that Burns had repeatedly tried to strike Mr Tervit with broken bottles, smashed a bottle over his head and tried to strike him with a knife.

However, following evidence from Mr Tervit and his wife Victoria, the Crown indicated that it was not proceeding with the charges and Burns was acquitted by Sheriff Thomas Welsh QC.