A man accused of murdering his wife then smashing his car into a lorry may not stand trial due to his mental state.

Neil Cumming may be suffering from paranoid delusional beliefs and be unfit to stand trial.

Lawyers are still considering medical reports on the 46-year-old, who is being held at the State Hospital at Carstairs.

Wife Barbara, 40, usually known as Jane, died in their home in Mary Findlay Drive, Longforgan, Tayside, on July 15 last year.

Cumming is alleged to have murdered the mother-of-two by repeatedly striking her with a knife or similar instrument.

A second charge accuses Cumming of dangerous driving on the A90 Perth to Dundee road on the same date.

It is alleged that he clocked up speeds of more than 100mph and drove on the wrong side of the road before driving into the back of a moving lorry injuring himself and Thomas Kiernan, who was in the cab of the lorry.

Cumming made a brief appearance at the High Court in Edinburgh on Thursday for judge Lord Bracadale to be updated on the preparation of medical reports.

Defence QC John Hamilton told the court that Cumming appeared to be suffering from paranoid delusional beliefs.

He is due back in court next month for a judge to consider the next move.