GP in neighbour row insists: 'Me drunk? It's preposterous'

Published on Wednesday 18 November 2009 20:55

A DOCTOR has branded as "preposterous" claims that he was drunk when he rowed with a neighbour in the street.

John McCallum, 49, who lives in one of Edinburgh's most sought-after areas, said he had simply wanted to speak to Rosaline Kinder after his children reported she had almost knocked them down.

However, he alleged that she became "completely irrational" and reversed into him and assaulted his son.

Dr McCallum told a court that he was still on call that evening. "One would not drink on duty or drink and drive on duty," he stated. Reminded that Mrs Kinder had claimed he was drunk, he responded: "Preposterous … I was sober."

Dr McCallum maintained his account of events was the truth, and denied that he had committed perjury in his evidence.

Dr McCallum and his wife, Michele, 49, are each charged with committing a breach of the peace in Napier Road, Merchiston, on 25 September last year, and acting in an intimidating manner towards Mrs Kinder, 48, and putting her in a state of fear and alarm.

Edinburgh Sheriff Court has heard of a history of feuds between the neighbours. Dr McCallum said of the latest alleged incident that he had met his wife in Bruntsfield and as they sat outside a cafe their son Andrew, 15, arrived "slightly distressed".

He continued: "I telephoned Lothian and Borders Police with a complaint … that my neighbour had willfully driven her car at my children while they were on the pavement.

"They offered to send a car round immediately, but I explained my children were at the centre and would not be home until later and we agreed they would come round the following morning."

At home, Dr McCallum asked Andrew to point out where the incident had occurred.

"We were standing across the road and at that point Mrs Kinder returned to her house. She stopped her vehicle and started sounding her horn continuously."

Dr McCallum insisted his concern had not been to remonstrate with Mrs Kinder, but simply to express his concerns about the safety of his children.

"They should be able to pass by her driveway on the pavement without concern they were going to be injured or killed," he said. He walked across the road, and was behind the car, but Mrs Kinder reversed and "only stopped when she struck my leg".

Mrs Kinder's husband, Guy, came out of their house, and Dr McCallum rejected claims he had behaved threateningly towards him. "No, not at all," he said. Mrs Kinder had been in and out of her car. "She was hysterical, shouting, pointing her finger, waving her arms around. She slapped Andrew on the abdomen," Dr McCallum alleged.

He continued: "I had serious concern about what happened and felt Mrs Kinder was acting in a completely irrational manner."

Dr McCallum said he understood that the charge he faced included the allegation that he had deliberately stood behind Mrs Kinder's car while she was reversing. It was untrue, he said.

"My sole intent on this day was to speak to Mrs Kinder about concerns I had for the safety of my children," he said.

Depute procurator-fiscal Gerard Drugan suggested that, by going to speak to Mrs Kinder, having already contacted the police, Dr McCallum had escalated the situation.

"As it turned out, it escalated the situation, but that was not my intention," Dr McCallum replied. "We have to live next door to each other and far better to resolve these things in an amicable manner."

Mr Drugan suggested the doctor had not been struck by the car and his son had not been slapped. He said Dr McCallum had "come into court and lied". Dr McCallum said: "That is not true." The trial was adjourned until later this month.