'Freemen' are told they will be tried

A SHERIFF has ruled that two men accused of drugs offences who claim the law does not apply to them must stand trial.

William, 50, and David Stirling, 26, were released yesterday from custody by Sheriff Andrew Normand after he told them he rejected their submissions that they should not be prosecuted as they were "freemen of the land".

The Stirlings are charged with producing and supplying cannabis on a number of dates between 2008 and 2010, failing to appear at court and refusing to give police personal details.

David Stirling, told the court: "The only offence we have been accused of is the cultivation of God's plants. It takes three or four months to cultivate one of these plants."

William and David, of Talla Road, Glasgow, will have time to prepare for their trial at Glasgow Sheriff Court later this month.

The court was told the men have "no personal circumstances applying to them which affords immunity to prosecution" and that there was "no legal significance" in calling themselves "freemen on the land".

Initially, the sheriff said that he did not find it appropriate to grant them bail and they could appeal at the High Court.

However, he changed his mind after both agreed to comply with the conditions of turning up to court and not committing any further offences.