Assault trial collapses after witness admits evidence unreliable

A man walked free from Lerwick Sheriff Court today after the woman he was alleged to have assaulted admitted her evidence was unreliable.

Joseph Mckinnon, 47, of Ulsta in Yell, was cleared of assaulting Caroline Tulloch during a drunken get together at his home on 16th June.

Ms Tulloch, 30, said she could remember being kicked and being “in a ball”, however her memory of the alleged event was “a blur”.

Procurator fiscal Duncan MacKenzie said she had made no reference to being kicked when she gave a statement to police.

She replied: “I said I was assaulted.”

However she later said she could not remember speaking to the police.

The trial, which had lasted only half an hour, was brought to a close after Mr MacKenzie asked her: “Is it not the case … you can’t be relied upon to give an accurate account?”

She replied: “I’d say so, yes.”