A hunter feared for his life when his shooting party came under fire from an unseen gunman, a court has been told.
Owen Jackman gave evidence at the trial of farmer Michael Sutherland, who is accused of culpably and recklessly firing a gun at eight men.
He told Aberdeen Sheriff Court yesterday: "My memory, to the day I go to the grave, would be that I expected to see one of my mates rolling out of the hide with a bullet in him.”
50 year-old Jackman was part of an organised bird-shooting event in a field at Foveran, Aberdeenshire, when the incident took place on October 26, 2009.
He said he spotted a man through his binoculars, who looked as though he was “brandishing” a rifle. Jackman tried to remain calm as a succession of nine or ten shots were fired within 3ft of his head.
When the shooting stopped, Mr Jackman said that the group abandoned most of their equipment and sheltered behind their minibus until being advised to leave the area immediately by the police.
Sutherland, of The New Farmhouse, Newburgh, faces a further charge of possessing 230 more rounds of ammunition than were covered by his license. He denies all the charges.
His counsel, Ian Duguid QC, suggested that Mr Jackman and his group may not have been seen from neighbouring land. He also argued that Andrew Richardson, who had been hired by the party as shoot organiser, had not informed the owner of the neighbouring property that a shoot would be taking place.
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