Hotelier insists smashing glass over tourist's head was accident

AN Edinburgh hotelier accused of smashing a glass over the head of an American tourist in a discussion about the Lockerbie bomber has told a court it had been an accident when the pair clashed.

William Preston, 58, said he had been drinking whisky with Samuel Hogue, 25, who had been staying at his B&B, Ceilidh-Donia, in Marchhall Crescent in the Capital.

"I really took to the lad," said Preston. "He was a very nice lad. He just reminded me of my son, just the same age."

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

During the discussion, Mr Hogue said Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi should never have been released.

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. Preston said the captain should have been tried for murder.

The hotelier said 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 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. "I remember seeing the glasses smashing.

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

Preston said he was eternally ashamed about the night and wished it had never happened and that he could invite Mr Hogue back with his family.

Mr Hogue, a business student who had been in Scotland from Louisiana for a wedding, told the court earlier that he had been due to fly back to America the following day.

He said Preston had been chatting with him and giving him free drinks after returning from a night out with his wife, Annette, when he was suddenly attacked.

He insisted that all he said to Preston about the Lockerbie bomber was "that stinks". He also told the court he had needed around seven stitches and had been "freaked out" by the incident and thought he was going to die.

Preston, of Marchhall Crescent, Edinburgh, denies assaulting Mr Hogue by hitting him on the head with a glass or similar object on August 24 last year.

He has lodged a special defence of self defence. He has admitted a breach of the peace charge at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary on August 24.

The trial in front of Sheriff Mhairi Stephen continues.