Man returns to court accused of attempted murder of officers in Greenock
William Taylor, 43, is accused of trying to kill PCs Laura Sayer and Kenny MacKenzie in the town on Friday 1st June
A man has appeared in court again accused of the attempted murder of two police officers in Greenock.
William Taylor, 43, is accused of trying to kill PCs Laura Sayer and Kenny MacKenzie in the town on Friday 1st June.
The officers were responding to a doctor dealing with a mental health assessment on Gateside Gardens.
During the incident, PC Kenny MacKenzie was stabbed in the neck while PC Laura Sayer – who was still on her probation period - was slashed in the arm.
Taylor was arrested following the incident and now faces four charges - two of attempted murder, one of behaving in a threatening or abusive way and one of resisting arrest.
Both officers were rushed to Inverclyde Royal Hospital and are recovering at home.
Taylor was held in police custody until last Monday when he appeared in the dock at Greenock Sheriff Court.
Prosecutors claim he carried out a life-threatening attack on PC MacKenzie in a bid to kill him by striking him on the head and body with a knife, leaving him scarred for life and badly hurt.
They also claim he tried to murder PC Sayer by repeatedly striking her on the body with a knife to her severe injury and permanent disfigurement.
They claim he behaved in a threatening or abusive way which was likely to cause a reasonable person to suffer fear or alarm, in breach of Section 38(1) of the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010, by uttering threats and brandishing a knife.
And the final charge he faces alleges he broke Section 90(2)(A) of the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 by struggling violently with officers in the execution of their duty.
Taylor was represented by defence solicitor Terry Gallanagh, a partner in law firm McCusker, McElroy and Gallanagh, during last Monday's hearing and was remanded in custody at Carstairs for psychiatric treatment to be carried out.
He returned to the dock today for his second court appearance, was again represented by Mr Gallanagh, and again made no plea to the charges.
Taylor was fully committed for trial during the hearing and was against remanded in custody to Carstairs as the treatment order he is the subject of was continued.
No court dates have been set due Taylor is expected to go on trial in due course.