A hunter has admitted firing the shot which killed a fellow pigeon shooter in Tayside in 2019.
After nearly four years, the trial has started of Franco Moroni, who is accused of killing Marco Cavola with a shotgun in the Carse of Gowrie.
On its opening day, the jury was read a joint minute of evidence agreed by both sides in the trial.
Jurors have were also shown photographs of the pigeon-shooting hide where Mr Cavola, 42, was killed in the tragedy.
Agreed evidence
In the joint minute of agreement, jurors head Moroni, Mr Cavola and another man were participating in a pigeon shoot at Rossie Estate, between Dundee and Perth, on March 25 2019.
The trip had been organised by a fourth man.
It was confirmed that at 10.45am, Moroni fired a loaded shotgun and struck Mr Cavola on the back of his head.
Mr Cavola sustained “severe” head injuries and died instantly.
Police recovered an Italian Beretta AL391 self-loading shotgun when they arrived.
The minute stated the gun was not prone to accidental discharge and the safety latch was in working order.
Charges
Aided in the dock by an interpreter, Italian national Moroni, listed as care of Beltrami & Company Solicitors in Glasgow, denies culpably and recklessly killing Marco Cavola at Rossie Estate, Castlehill, Inchture.
The 62-year-old denies culpably and recklessly repeatedly discharging a loaded shotgun in close proximity to another person and exposing him to the risk of injury.
Moroni denies culpably and recklessly discharging a loaded shotgun in the direction of Mr Cavola, whereby he was struck on the head by shot and gases from the shotgun.
The charge he faces alleges Mr Cavola sustained severe head injuries and died as a consequence of his injuries.
Photographs
After being sworn in at the High Court in Dundee, a jury of nine men and six women were shown photographs taken by police.
They showed two separate hides on edges of a field on the east side of where the B953 meets the A90.
Both hides were constructed from camouflage netting and branches for cover.
Police scene examiner Rachel Aiken, 34, took the photographs in and around the ploughed field – near the Horse Shoe Cafe – where the men had been shooting pigeons.
In the witness box, she described the location as remote.
The hide Moroni and Mr Cavola were using was described as 2.9m x 2m in size.
Ms Aiken said: “It was a very confined space that made recovery of the deceased very challenging.”
An agreed post-mortem conducted later showed Mr Cavola had no alcohol, prescription drugs or illicit drugs in his system.
The trial, before Lord Clark, will continue on Monday.
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