A trial of an 82-year-old man accused of murdering his former wife at a flat in Aberdeen more than four decades ago is anticipated to last 10 days.
Christopher Harrisson has denied committing the murder of Brenda Page at the property in the city’s Allan Street on July 14 in 1978.
He is alleged to have repeatedly struck her on the head and body with a blunt implement or implements and otherwise caused blunt force injuries to her head and body.
Harrisson, of Aberdeen, also faces further charges of assault, breach of the peace and attempting to defeat the ends of justice.
John Brannigan, counsel for Harrison, told a brief hearing at the High Court in Edinburgh that the defence were prepared for trial.
He said that senior counsel Brian McConnachie KC, junior counsel and agents had consulted with Harrison.
The judge, Lord Richardson, asked what the Crown’s “best estimate” of the duration of the trial was and was told by prosecutor Alex Prentice KC that he expected it to take 10 days.
The trial is scheduled to begin on February 20 at the High Court in Aberdeen.
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