Murder bid accused shouted: 'I want media'

HIGH COURT TRIAL HEARS FROM POLICE OFFICERS

- NICK FORBES, PA SCOTLAND

A man accused of attempting to murder four police officers shouted, “I want the media here” as he waved a chainsaw at them, a court has heard.

Liridon Kastrati, 32, is accused of ramming a car into a marked police vehicle and then brandishing the chainsaw at officers on Paisley’s Glasgow Road in broad daylight on May 6, 2024.

It's alleged he stole a black Volkswagen car on the town’s George Street and drove it “at excessive speed” before mounting the pavement and colliding with a police car containing two officers.

Kastrati is then alleged to have pulled a chainsaw out of a bag, started it, and run at officers while shouting and swearing.

He has denied attempting to murder four police officers, breach of the peace and motoring offences.

On the second day of his trial, the High Court in Paisley on Thursday heard evidence from PCs Kelly Ferris and Gary Cowan, who had been in the police car when it was struck around 1.30pm.

PC Ferris, who had been in the passenger seat, said she was “completely dazed and quite scared” following the impact, and that the car was “filling with smoke’ from its airbags.