Canal death trial told of assault

A man accused of drowning another man in the Forth and Clyde canal has had the charge dropped but has admitted assaulting his cousin.

William Brown, 32, of Falkirk, denied killing James McNaughton, of Sauchie, and attempting to murder his cousin by trying to push him into the canal.

But at the High Court in Edinburgh, Brown admitted assaulting Martin Dowds, 21. He faces sentence later.

The murder trial against James Baker, 28, of Bonnybridge, continues.

The jury had been shown CCTV footage of the incident on 10 October at the canal at Bainsford, Falkirk, which resulted in the death of Mr McNaughton, 23.

The four men were shown to be on the towpath of the canal at 1400 GMT and about 15 minutes later, the footage showed attempts to rescue and revive Mr McNaughton by police and paramedics.

Mr McNaughton died four days later in hospital.