The looming trial of eight men accused of engaging in a mass brawl at HMP Perth has been moved to Falkirk so all eight of them can be tried at the same time.
Last month fiscal depute Michael Sweeney told Perth Sheriff Court he was having to make enquiries to see if the group could all stand trial simultaneously.
Mr Sweeney said as he understood the situation at the time only a maximum of seven defendants were allowed in the same room in Perth and he was looking into whether the group could be split in two and tried in different courtrooms.
He added if he was unable to split the group the case may have to be tried at a different court with larger rooms.
Another prosecutor, Alastair McDermid, confirmed last week the trial will now be held at Falkirk Sheriff Court early next year.
He clarified the decision was not just about remaining Covid restrictions but also down to the sheer number of defendants involved in the case.
Four Dundee men - Terry Barr (32), of St Ninian’s Terrace, Scott Dolan (33), of Glenmoy Avenue, Richard Gibson (36), of Linfield Street and Daniel Blake (43), of Hepburn Street, all previously denied taking part in a “large-scale stand-up fight” and committing a breach of the peace at HMP Perth on July 23, 2019.
Two Angus men - John Brand (29) of River Street, Brechin and Graham Soave (33), of Dundee Loan, Forfar - also previously denied the charge as did Pavel Tomko (26), of Northwood Crescent, Nottingham and Dylan Ferguson (25), an inmate at HMP Low Moss.
Defence solicitors acting for all eight men confirmed they were all maintaining their not guilty pleas last week.
Sheriff Gillian Wade agreed to fix a trial date for January 9 next year at Falkirk Sheriff Court with a pre-trial hearing set in early December this year.
