Flight lawyer seen as 'arrogant'

Dr Jandoo was said to be under severe stress

A senior lawyer accused of sparking a bomb scare on a plane could be seen as "arrogant and challenging", a psychologist has told a court.

Dr Kenneth Aitken was giving evidence at the trial of Dr Raj Jandoo, an advocate and part-time sheriff.

He denies a series of charges relating to incidents on board an Edinburgh to Stornoway flight last March.

Dr Aitken told Stornoway Sheriff Court Dr Jandoo's behaviour could have been linked to a bereavement reaction.

He said the reaction could have been caused by the death of Dr Jandoo's wife in a road accident in 1997.

This left Dr Jandoo to bring up their three young children.

'Abnormal bereavement'

Dr Aitken, a clinical psychologist at Gartnavel Royal Hospital, said tests he conducted had placed Dr Jandoo in the top 1% of the population who display levels of anxiety and obsession and the top 3% of the population for levels of stress.

He said: "He (Dr Jandoo) clearly exhibits symptoms consistent with an abnormal bereavement reaction, consistent with the losses in short succession of both his father and his second wife."

He added that while on the plane a series of events, including Dr Jandoo feeling he was being stared at and being nervous about flying, could have prompted a "depressive reaction" known as Learned Helplessness.

"It is my opinion ... that in the incident in question Jandoo would not have deliberately acted in a manner likely to cause distress or a threat to others," he added.

Stornoway Airport was the flight's destination

Procurator Fiscal David Teale said it was "hardly surprising" that Dr Jandoo had shown signs of depression and anxiety.

He said that Dr Jandoo had been examined after the plane incident and at a time when he was facing the prospect of a court case.

He added that Dr Jandoo had been described by psychiatrists as "arrogant and challenging" and suggested that was exactly how the accused had appeared on 15 March last year.

"I think a lot of Jandoo's actions were perceived as such, but that was not the intention," replied Dr Aitken.

Dr Jandoo, 47, faces four charges, one of which alleges that he committed a breach of the peace on board an Edinburgh to Stornoway flight on 15 March 2004, by making references to a bomb and frightening passengers.

He is also accused of failing to switch off his mobile phone and laptop computer, acting in a manner likely to endanger the aircraft and failing to obey instructions while on the plane.

The trial before Sheriff Principal John MacInnes has been adjourned and will resume next month.