Woman accused of airgun killing 'unfit for trial'

A woman accused of shooting and killing her partner with an air rifle may be unfit to stand trial, a hearing has been told.

Simone Ramage, 40, is alleged to have fired the weapon at Brian Kowbel at a property in Galashiels on 17 February 2023.

She denies the charges against her which include culpable homicide.

A preliminary hearing at the High Court in Glasgow was told she was "clearly unfit" to stand trial.

As well as the culpable homicide charge, Ms Ramage also denies attempting to pervert the course of justice by hiding the rifle under a sofa and "culpably and recklessly" discharging the weapon towards a fence.

Her defence counsel Mark Stewart KC told the hearing that he was awaiting a written report from a psychologist on her.

Mr Stewart said: "The doctor has provided a verbal report that she is clearly unfit to stand trial as she suffers from PTSD and she will need long-term psychological care and treatment.

"The doctor expresses a degree of criticism of the lack of treatment she has received from the medical profession in the last two years.

"He said had it not been for her GP and family looking after her, she would have been sectioned for her own safety as she is a risk of self harm."

A further hearing was fixed for September this year by judge Lord Arthurson.

A trial had previously been arranged for March next year.