ITVA woman is to stand trial charged with shooting her partner to death.
Simone Ramage is accused of discharging an air rifle at Brian Kowbel, 40, at their home in Galashiels in the Borders on February 17, 2023.
The culpable homicide allegation claims the 39-year-old shot him in the body, leaving him so severely hurt that he later died in hospital.
Ramage faces three further charges.
She is accused of attempting to pervert the course of justice by concealing the air rifle under a sofa at the property.
Ramage is said to have told police and paramedics that she instead discharged “an airsoft pistol” at Mr Kowbel.
She is charged with possession of an air rifle and also claims that she “culpably and recklessly” fired the weapon towards a fence bordering a car park.
The case called for a hearing at the High Court in Glasgow on Wednesday.
Mark Stewart, defending, entered not guilty pleas to the charges that Ramage faces.
The KC said the case involved a “slightly unusual subject matter”.
Mr Stewart: “The position is that the accused is someone who suffers greatly from as a consequence of the events.”
He added this had caused difficulty for Ramage’s lawyers in their preparation of the case.
However, the defence advocate and prosecutor Erin Campbell each said they were ready for a trial to be fixed.
Lord Clark set a trial due to begin on May 14 next year in Edinburgh.
The case could last up to six days.
Ramage, still of Galashiels, remains on bail meantime.
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