Seven men to stand trial over Caspian takeaway assault

Kyle Campbell, Brandon Munro, Robbie Smart, Connor Crombie, Sean Wood, Darren Macduff and 17-year-old who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court today/yesterday [FRI] over the allegations.

The seven are accused on summary complaint of attacking Mohammed Khalid at the Caspian takeaway in Methil’s Wellesley Road that the 53-year-old runs with his wife Maqsooda on November 15 last year.

A total of 130 people plus seven terrorists died in the attacks on November 13 and 14 at the Bataclan theatre, the Stade de France and on streets in central Paris.

The seven men are alleged to have repeatedly punched and kicked Mr Khalid on the head and body to his injury.

Munro, Smart and Campbell are also alleged to have attacked shop assistant Mohammed Nadeem (35) by repeatedly punching and kicking him on the body to his injury.

All seven are also accused of “acting in a racially aggravated manner which caused or was intended to cause alarm and distress to Mohammed Khalid in that they did shout racially offensive comments towards him”.

Campbell (19) of Sidlaw Street, Kirkcaldy, Munro (18) of Farne Court, Kirkcaldy, Smart (18) of Denfield Place, Kirkcaldy, Macduff (18) of Craigmount, Kirkcaldy, Wood (20) of Hugo Avenue, Coaltown of Wemyss, Crombie (18) of Fosterton Crescent, Kirkcaldy, and the 16-year-old, also of Kirkcaldy, denied the charges on summary complaint at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court.

Lawyers for the seven said they were all maintaining pleas of not guilty and asked for a further pre-trial hearing to be set to finalise issues around legal aid and disclosure of CCTV and statements from the Crown ahead of trial.

A further hearing was set for next week with the attendance of all seven accused excused.

They were ordered to appear at a trial date in December.