Musselburgh man cleared of attacking former neighbour

A MUSSELBURGH man who had been accused of attacking a former neighbour in the street has walked free from court after his trial collapsed.

Edinburgh Sheriff Court. File picture: Ian Georgeson

Kenneth Halliday, 56, had allegedly punched victim Jordan Buchan “around 20 times” to the back of his head during an incident that was said to have taken place at Musselburgh’s Eskview Terrace.

Halliday was said to have become involved after Buchan, 25, and his partner, Laura Quinn, got into a verbal argument with Halliday’s partner.

Buchan claimed the woman had laughed at Ms Quinn when the baby buggy she was pushing became jammed in cobbles.

He then claimed the woman’s son crossed the road to confront him before he was punched in the face. Halliday is then said to have carried out the assault on Buchan.

Former Musselburgh resident Halliday, of Old School Path, Mayfield, appeared on trial at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Friday.

Alleged victim Buchan told the court: “The accused’s partner’s son approached me and punched me to the face. He had crossed the road and squared up to me. I pulled him from the road and pinned him against a fence. That is when Ken Halliday started attacking me, he was punching me to the back of the head. I tried to restrain him, but I got hit about 20 times.”

Ms Quinn, 20, also gave evidence to the court and confirmed Buchan’s version of events. The mother-of-two also claimed the baby buggy she was pushing had been tipped over during the struggle. But following her appearance the fiscal depute told Sheriff Donald Corke the Crown was “no longer seeking a conviction”.