(486) LORD WATSON’S FIRE-RAISING CASE BEGINS
After a long delay since the original charges were brought, Mike Watson MSP appeared in Edinburgh Sheriff Court on 23 August 2005 to begin the process of answering two charges of willful fire-raising at Prestonfield House Hotel in Edinburgh during the Scottish Politician of the Year Awards event on 11 November 2004 (see No 404). Mr Watson pleaded not guilty to both charges, and the case was continued.