Criminal proceedings continued today with another hearing in the case against gamekeeper George Mutch of Kildrummy Estate, Aberdeenshire.
We understand Mutch is pleading not guilty to a suite of charges for offences alleged to have taken place in August 2012. The charges come under Section 5 subsection 1B of the Wildlife & Countryside Act (relating to the use of a trap for the purpose of taking or killing wild birds) and Section 1 subsection 1A of the Wildlife & Countryside Act (relating to the killing, injuring or taking of wild birds).
This was the 8th hearing in this case. Previous hearings:
11th September 2013 (case opened)
2nd October 2013 (hearing #2)
30th October 2013 (hearing #3)
27th November 2013 (hearing #4)
17th December 2013 (hearing #5)
17th March 2014 (hearing #6)
2nd April 2014 (hearing #7)
16th April 2014 (hearing #8).
We understand a trial date has been set for late May, although there is yet another hearing (#9) scheduled for 13th May.
Previous blogs on this case here, here, here, here, here and here.
Raptor Persecution UK 
In the (fictional) case of Jimmy smacking Granny Haggarty round the head before nicking her hand bag, would we expect as many preliminary hearings?????
Jarndyce v Jarndyce!
Forgive my ignorance as to general court proceedings, but what are all these hearings for anyway? Just in general.
Jimmy wouldnt have a QC defending him…as I presume will be the case here…
Legal aid is not what it used to be :)
No wonder British justice is a laughing stock, xxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxx so they might just as well abandon this farce of a case now and save all us taxpayers some money !!!
[Ed: Partly edited Nirofo – it presumes guilt]
Not really a comment on this post just some info for you. Edit or remove as you see fit.
Came across the web page on BASC relating to Scottish general licence and the interesting thing is the image is of a buzzard! Not the first thing you think of in terms of pest control under the GL. A revealing slip up I think.
http://basc.org.uk/blog/key-issues/scottish-general-licences-update/
I have taken and saved a screen shot of the page. I am sure it will be changed if they see posts commenting on it. Let me know if you need it.
Andrew
I think it speaks volumes about the Holyrood brigade that they cannot (or will not) re-engineer the criminal justice system so as to prevent what, to any remotely fair person, is a nonsense.