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Jury Retires in Paisley Chainsaw Attempted Murder Trial

Deliberations hinge on intent versus investigative shortcomings including no interpreter.

Overview

  • The High Court jury in Paisley has begun considering its verdict on a single charge that Liridon Kastrati attempted to murder four police officers after a May 6, 2024 collision.
  • Prosecutor John Keenan argued Kastrati deliberately rammed a stationary patrol car and then pursued officers with an activated chainsaw, urging jurors to infer murderous intent.
  • Defense counsel John Scullion KC said the inquiry was flawed, noting Kastrati was charged without a solicitor or Albanian interpreter and that a mobile phone found in the driver’s seat was not examined.
  • Collision evidence presented to the court found no pre‑collision defects, the expert could not quantify speed, rear tyres showed an 18 PSI disparity, and no CCTV was provided for analysis.
  • Kastrati, remanded for 18 months, denies attempted murder; he was earlier acquitted of breach of the peace, theft of a car and motoring offences after the Crown withdrew those charges, and two officers were treated for whiplash in hospital.