Man accused of holding down girl in freezer

A MAN has gone on trial accused of assaulting a four-year-old girl by holding her in a household freezer.

Stuart Kitt, 33, has pleaded not guilty to assaulting the girl – who cannot be identified for legal reasons – at an address in Edinburgh in October 2007.

Kitt, whose address was given in court as being a prisoner of HMP Edinburgh, is accused of dragging her by the ankles and holding her arms down inside the appliance.

He also allegedly put her feet and body into the freezer and held her there to her severe injury and permanent disfigurement, Edinburgh Sheriff Court heard yesterday.

Kitt has entered a special defence with the court alleging that a prosecution witness assaulted the girl, who is now aged eight. The trial is expected to take one week to complete.