Darren Day weapon trial starts

Entertainer Darren Day has appeared for the first day of his trial into the possession of an offensive weapon called a kubotan.

Mr Day, 41, denies being in possession of a kubotan in a public place without reasonable excuse or lawful authority.

His appearance follows his arrest in December 2009 when his Mercedes hit a lamp post in Manor Place.

The trial has been adjourned until 7 April. Sentence on his guilty drink-driving plea was also deferred.

In January this year, Mr Day admitted drink driving with 58 microgrammes of alcohol in his breath, when the legal limit is 35, and to failing to stop after an accident.

Pleas of not guilty to careless driving, failing to report the accident to the police and not co-operating with an initial breath test were accepted by the prosecution.

Self-defence

The Crown, however, did not accept a not guilty plea to being in possession of an offensive weapon.

Mr Day was given an interim ban from driving and his car was seized by the Crown. It could be forfeited as he has a previous conviction for drink driving.

During the hearing, two martial arts experts from Lothian and Borders Police told Sheriff William Holligan that the kubotan was designed in the 1970’s for the Los Angeles Police as a self-defence weapon.

They said it was now widely available in the UK via the Internet and in martial arts shops.

The officers, Sgt Gary Russell and Pc Liam Fitzpatrick, both trainers in officer protection, said the kubotan, nicknamed in the USA as "an attitude adjuster" was used as a close-quarter restraining instrument.

Pc Fitzpatrick admitted that in "the worst case scenario it could kill somebody".

Questioned by defence solicitor Bobby Frazer, the officers said no licence was required to buy a kubotan in this country and that under the Offensive Weapons Scotland Act of 2005 there was no mention of it in a list of offensive weapons.

Mr Frazer claimed that the kubotan was used as a key ring.

Mr Day was starring in the Queen musical "We will Rock You" at the Playhouse Theatre at the time of his arrest.</p

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Edinburgh Festival plans ‘new world’ theme

The modern-day culture of the "new world" will be explored in this year’s Edinburgh International Festival.

Director Jonathan Mills said it would be a journey of discovery through the diverse contemporary cultures of the Americas and Australasia.

The festival will open on 13 August with John Adams’s nativity oratorio El Nino.

It will end on 5 September with a fireworks concert which will celebrate the music of the movies.

During its three-week run artists from across the USA, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Bolivia, Venezuela and Argentina will perform.

There will also be performers from Samoa, New Zealand and Australia.

"This year the festival takes us on a journey around the contemporary cultures of the Americas and Australasia"

Jonathan Mills
Festival director

World premieres will include Caledonia, which explores Scotland’s disastrous attempt to turn itself into a colonial power by establishing a colony at Darien in Panama at the end of the 17th Century.

It is by Scottish political writer Alistair Beaton, whose previous work includes TV drama A Very Social Secretary – about David Blunkett’s affairs while at the Home Office.

The flamenco dance work Quimeras will also have its first performance.

And Peter Carey’s 1981 novel Bliss will be the inspiration for a new Australian opera to be performed for the first time in Europe, by Opera Australia.

American composer George Gershwin’s Depression era opera Porgy and Bess has been updated in a multi-media production which will include a hip-hop and contemporary dance company.

Gospel music group The Blind Boys of Alabama are to make their festival debut, as are the Abyssinian Chancel Choir from Harlem.

‘Complex continents’

From South America, Teatro Cinema and Teatro en el Blanco will offer audiences a glimpse of cinematic theatre from Chile.

There is also an extensive programme of classical music concerts and dance.

The Edinburgh International Festival began in 1947 as "a platform for the flowering of the human spirit".

All artists and companies appear at the invitation of the festival director, a major contrast with the Edinburgh Fringe, which also takes place in August.

Launching his fourth programme as festival director, Mr Mills said: "This year the festival takes us on a journey around the contemporary cultures of the Americas and Australasia.

"We have shifted our centre of gravity from Europe towards these intriguing and complex continents."

Public booking for tickets opens on Saturday 27 March. </p

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Bragg in banker bonuses protest

Musician Billy Bragg has taken his protest against excessive bonuses for RBS bosses to Edinburgh, the home of the bank.

He is calling on Chancellor Alistair Darling to cap bonuses for chiefs at the bailed-out bank to £25,000.

The campaign currently has 30,000 online supporters.

Bragg is refusing to pay tax on his earnings until the limit is imposed. He was due to speak at RBS’ former headquarters in St Andrew’s Square.

The singer-songwriter said: "At a time when we are being softened up for massive cuts in public services, neither government nor opposition seem prepared to rein in the excessive bonus culture that got us into this trouble in the first place.

"Millions of workers are already facing stark choices. Are they willing to work longer hours for less money or would they rather be unemployed

"I don’t see why the bankers at RBS shouldn’t be asked the same question."

‘A sham’

Bragg, who released the hit album Talking With The Taxman About Poetry in 1986, is urging people to send letters or e-mails to the chancellor as part of his online campaign.

RBS, which is 84% owned by the taxpayer following a string of bailouts, is expected to pay millions of pounds in bonuses to its investment bankers this year.

Asked previously about the prospect of going to jail for refusing to pay his taxes, Bragg said: "I’m hoping it won’t come to that.

"This is to draw attention to the issue. Either we own 84% of the company or the entire thing is a sham.

"I’m fed up with no-one doing anything about it."</p

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Boyle ‘fine’ after intruder scare

A man was detained by police after singer Susan Boyle discovered an intruder inside her house.

The talent show internet star is understood to have just flown back from London after helping to record the Helping Haiti charity single.

The man ran out of her house in Blackburn, West Lothian, when Boyle opened the front door on Tuesday night.

Police detained a man in connection with the incident but he was later released. Inquiries are continuing.

A spokesman said: "Lothian and Borders Police were called to an address in Blackburn at around 9.50pm yesterday following reports of a disturbance.

"A man was detained in connection with the incident and released pending further inquiries."

Despite her global success, Boyle, the Britain’s Got Talent runner-up, has not moved from the council house she has lived in since she was a child.

Her album, I Dreamed A Dream, went straight to number one in the charts and achieved the best first week’s sale for a debut.</p

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