A murder accused has gone on trial over a fatal stabbing with his mother also in the dock for allegedly trying to cover up his involvement.
Robbie Smullen, 23, is charged with the murder of Barry Dixon who died in Perth in June 2019.
His mum, Mary Smullen, 46, is accused of attempting to pervert the course of justice.
The pair both denied the charges against them as they went on trial at the High Court in Edinburgh on Tuesday.
Robbie Smullen is accused of assaulting Barry in the city’s Wallace Court on June 4 2019, striking him on the body with a knife or similar instrument. The charge states Barry, 22, died later that day from his injuries at Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, and Smullen murdered him.
Smullen is further accused of assaulting Paul Booth in Perth’s Nimmo Avenue on June 3 2019, challenging him to fight, chasing him, fighting with him, threatening him, and repeatedly punching him on the head to his injury.
Another charge accuses him of violating bail conditions on June 3 and 4 2019 by failing to comply with an order to remain within an address in Wallace Court between 7am and 7pm daily
Mary Smullen is accused of pretending to police officers that the stabbing of Barry had been committed by Shannon Beattie, knowing this to be false and Robbie Smullen to have been responsible.
She is charged with doing so to conceal the involvement of her son in the crime to impede, obstruct or hinder the police investigation and thus attempted to pervert the course of justice.
Robbie Smullen has lodged a special defence of self defence.
The trial, before judge Lady Carmichael, continues.
