An MSP who is facing 24 charges of assaulting four women over a 28-year period has claimed that he acted in self defence in relation to three of the allegations.
Bill Walker,71, appeared at a procedural hearing at Edinburgh Sheriff Court today in relation to the domestic abuse allegations.
Mr Walker, of Alloa, Clackmannanshire, is alleged to have attacked the women at various addresses in Scotland between January 1967 and January 1995.
The independent MSP's lawyer, solicitor advocate Gordon Martin, lodged a special defence of self defence to three of the charges.
Mr Walker, a former SNP member from Dunfermline, sat in the dock taking notes before Sheriff Katherine Mackie.
He is alleged to have assaulted Maureen Traquair, Anne Walker, Anne Louise Paterson and Diana Walker at addresses in Edinburgh, Stirling, Midlothian and Alloa. Mr Walker denies all charges.
During the five-minute hearing, the court was told that prosecution lawyers and Mr Martin had agreed evidence in relation to the dates of the politician's marriages and divorces.
The court also heard that the Crown were in the process of citing a total of 24 witnesses, but not all would be called to give evidence.
Sheriff Mackie continued the case to a trial hearing at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on July 8.
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