Shots fired from car after pub quarrel

FOUR people dived into bushes for cover when they were fired on from the window of a passing car.

Edinburgh Sheriff Court heard how the A71 road in Currie was closed as 16 police officers, including four armed officers, responded to the armed incident alert.

The gunman, Scott Martin, 20, of Dolphin Road, Currie, yesterday pleaded guilty to culpably and recklessly discharging a .177 carbon dioxide-powered air pistol in the direction of James Lothian, his mother Ann, sister Stacie and family friend Daniel Harcus. The incident occurred on December 31 last year in Bryce Road, Currie.

Fiscal Neil Almond told Sheriff Nigel Morrison QC that Martin and some friends spent the evening of December 30 drinking in the Riccarton Arms Hotel, Edinburgh. The accused and others left just before midnight, leaving behind 19-year-old Darren Shishodia.

There had been "an altercation" between Mr Shishodia and 22-year-old Mr Lothian.

Martin and the others returned in a car, picked up Mr Shishodia and took him to Dolphin Road.

They then returned to the Riccarton Arms where another argument occurred and a stone was thrown at the car, smashing a window. The fiscal said Martin returned to Mr Shishodia's home, picked him up, collected the gun belonging to Mr Shishodia and went looking for Mr Lothian.

In Bryce Road, the car came upon the group and Martin fired the air pistol three times.

Sentence was deferred until October 3 for reports.