Disabled indyref ‘attacker’ too ill for trial

A DISABLED woman may be “too ill” to stand trial accused of hurling a chair from a balcony at Yes campaigners canvassing for votes in last year’s independence referendum, a court heard yesterday.

A disabled woman has been accused of attacking a Yes rally during last year's independence referendum campaign. Picture: TSPL

Pettina Capaldi denies the charge and was due to stand trial at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court yesterday.

The alleged incident occurred as Jim Sillars attended a rally for votes in the run-up to the vote on 18 September.

He was touring Kirkcaldy in his “Margo Mobile” – named after his late wife, former independent MSP Margo Mac-
Donald.

It is alleged that Capaldi – who uses a wheelchair – shouted and swore and threw furniture from her home on 29 August last year.

The incident took place two days after the new Scottish Labour leader Jim Murphy was pelted with eggs in the Fife town during his “100 towns in 100 days” soapbox tour.

Capaldi, 53, faces a charge of behaving in a threatening and abusive manner likely to cause fear and alarm.

Defence solicitor Peter Robertson told the court that Capaldi had been certified as unfit to stand trial by her doctor.

Fiscal depute Nicola Henderson asked for more information on her illness.

A new trial date was set for October.