The sentencing of a man who carried out a violent attack on an alleged Forfar murder victim was postponed at Forfar Sheriff Court.
Kevin Robertson previously admitted an indictment containing a charge of assaulting Catherine Sandeman in a case which could have seen evidence being led from beyond the grave.
Robertson, 51, of Goosecroft, Forfar, admitted assaulting Ms Sandeman at a house in Goosecroft on February 5 by repeatedly punching and slapping her on the head and body, repeatedly placing his hands around her neck and compressing her neck whereby her breathing was restricted, all to her injury. The assault took place while he was the subject of bail orders imposed at Forfar and Arbroath sheriff courts.
Sentencing was deferred for a social work report, which was available to Sheriff Valerie Johnston on Thursday.
However, defence agent Bob Bruce said the social work report raised mental health difficulties and that his client had attempted to commit suicide in the past.
Sheriff Valerie Johnston said this raised the question of whether sentencing should be delayed for a psychological report on Robertson.
She deferred sentence until March 11 for Sheriff Kevin Veal to make the decision as he had dealt with all the other callings of the case.
The accused’s bail was continued. The discovery of Ms Sandeman’s body at a house in Forfar last October sparked a murder inquiry.
In November Lee Arne Hopsdal, 32, was remanded to the state hospital at Carstairs following an appearance at the town’s sheriff court at which a Crown application for a mental health treatment order was granted.
Hopsdal had earlier made no plea after appearing on a murder petition.