A St Cyrus man has been found guilty of assaulting another man in an Angus residential area.
Kevin Hutcheon attacked Mariusz Skrzypkowsky on Castle Street, Montrose, last year, chasing after him and placing his hands around the man’s neck while he was on the ground.
Following a two-day trial, it took a jury of eight women and seven men less than 40 minutes to return a unanimous guilty verdict at Forfar Sheriff Court.
The 29-year-old initially appeared on an indictment alleging that he choked Mr Skrzypkowsky to his injury on the afternoon of August 6, although the Crown amended the charge during the hearing.
The Crown dropped proceedings against co-accused Martin Hutchison, and a charge of forcing entry to Mr Skrzypkowsky’s home in New Wynd and assaulting him on August 5, which both men also denied.
The court yesterday heard evidence from Gwen Wakeling, who lived metres away from the assault.
“I could hear shouting and running outside,” she said.
“One guy was lying on the pavement, two other guys were standing.
“One was bent over and the other guy was curled up on the ground.
“All I can remember is him saying something about being a grass.”
Ms Wakeling said she shouted at the men and pointed at her phone “as if I was going to call the police”.
She added Hutcheon, of Davidson Place, made a “shush” motion with his finger before the men fled.
The court previously heard evidence from Paul Rae, a near neighbour who described a disturbance. He said: “I could see three gentlemen, one lying on the ground, another on top of him and another on the other side of the road.”
Hutcheon, who was represented by solicitor Sarah Russo, will return for sentencing on November 18.
Depute fiscal Joanne Smith said: “Your lordship will see that there are convictions for violence and assault, both at summary and indictment level.”
Sheriff Gregor Murray granted Hutcheon bail, although he is serving a sentence for a previous offence.