AN MSP facing 24 charges of assaulting four women over a 28-year period has claimed he acted in self-defence in relation to three of the allegations.
Bill Walker, 71, appeared at a procedural hearing at Edinburgh Sheriff Court yesterday in relation to the allegations of domestic abuse.
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. The development came as Mr Walker, a former SNP member, sat in the dock taking notes of the proceedings, which were heard before Sheriff Katherine Mackie.
Mr Walker 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, who sits for Dunfermline in the Scottish Parliament, denies all charges.
Moments earlier, when the court clerk had asked the politician at the start of the five-minute long hearing whether he was William Walker, the Scottish Parliament member replied: "Yes I am."
During the hearing, the court also heard 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 was in the process of citing a total of 24 witnesses.
However, the court heard that not all of the people cited would be called upon to give evidence.
Sheriff Mackie then continued the case to a trial hearing, which will take place at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on July 8 this year.
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