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Stornoway, Lewis
Australia satellite evidence in vandalism trial 23/7/11
The long arm of justice stretched across the globe on Friday when a magistrates court in Australia opened late to allow a trial in the Western Isles to go ahead.
A special satellite link was set up for Stornoway Sheriff Court to hear evidence from two women in Melbourne, Victoria.
Their evidence was crucial in convicting John Weatherby Emberson of vandalising a car.
It was the first time satellite evidence has been used in the Western Isles while international video links have never been deployed before in the Stornoway court.
John Weatherby Emberson, 68,of 7 Drium Shiader, Shulishader, Point, Lewis, was found guilty of damaging the bodywork of a vehicle.
The prosecution held that residue of red paint from the vandalised car was found on the keys belonging to another vehicle which Jennifer Howe and her mother Mary Morton of Melbourne were the last to use.
It is understood they have Harris connections and had regularly visited the islands.
They testified by video there was no paint on the key when they returned it to the hire desk at Stornoway airport.
At the time Emberson worked for the rental firm. The court previously heard of unauthorised parking in spaces allocated to the company.
Sheriff David Sutherland gave him two months to pay for the damage before he gets sentenced.
The satellite link required two days work on each side of the world. A computer expert from the Scottish Courts Service flew to Lewis to set up the equipment and carry out a test run on Thursday.
Juggling the time differences was difficult but the Stornoway court commenced an
hour earlier yesterday morning which was 6pm for the Australian court court to re-