A Fife MSP facing 24 domestic abuse charges has claimed he acted in self-defence in relation to three of the allegations levelled against him.
Dunfermline representative Bill Walker, 71, appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Tuesday to face charges he physically assaulted four women between January 1967 and January 1995.
Solicitor advocate Gordon Martin lodged a special defence of self-defence with regards to three of the allegations.
Mr Walker is alleged to have assaulted the four women at addresses in Edinburgh, Stirling, Midlothian and Alloa.
Former SNP member and now independent MSP Mr Walker, of Alloa, has entered a plea of not guilty to all the charges but spoke only to confirm his name during the hearing.
The trial will take place at Edinburgh Sheriff Court next month.
