Hotelier cleared of glass attack

AN Edinburgh hotelier has been cleared of smashing a glass over the head of an American tourist in a row over the release of the Lockerbie bomber.

William Preston, 58, was alleged to have hit business student Samuel Hogue, 25, after a pleasant discussion over a few whiskies turned sour when the release of Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi came up.

But a jury at Edinburgh Sheriff Court returned a not guilty verdict to the charge after a three-day trial.

Mr Preston did, however, admit breaching the peace and threatening to kill police officers and medical staff at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary following the incident on August 24 last year.

Sheriff Mhairi Stephen told him: "The jury acquits you of the serious charge of assault but the evidence supports your guilty plea to the charge of breach of the peace which is a serious charge given the nature of your disorderly conduct. The elephant in the corner is not Mr al-Megrahi but alcohol."

Giving evidence, Mr Preston said Mr Hogue, who had been staying at his B&B, Ceilidh-Donia on Marchhall Crescent, had reminded him of his son.

The pair had begun discussing current affairs but Mr Hogue did not seem to know much about world politics, said Mr Preston.

Mr Hogue said al-Megrahi should never have been released but Mr Preston said he spoke of an incident where an American warship had shot down an Iranian passenger jet and that nothing happened to the captain.

The hotelier said Mr Hogue had then inferred the Scots were "yellow bellied b*******". He said he told Mr Hogue: "No more f****** drink for you. Give me your f******* glass." Mr Hogue had stood up with the glass and Mr Preston said he feared he might be attacked. He had his glass in his right hand and grabbed Mr Hogue's hand which had the glass in it with his left hand.

"Both glasses must have collided," he said.

Mr Preston's hand was cut and there were two broken glasses on the bar.

Mr Hogue, who had travelled from Louisiana to Scotland for a wedding, told the court all he said to Mr Preston about the Lockerbie bomber was "that stinks". He said he had then seen the glass coming at him and that it hit him on the head.

Mr Hogue said he had needed around seven stitches and had been left with a two-and-a-half inch scar which is close to his hairline and temple.

Sheriff Stephen deferred sentence on the breach of the peace charge for background reports.