Court / Danish man accused of rape
A TRIAL date for a Danish man accused of raping a woman in Shetland will be set at a later date due to the way the court system is operating during the coronavirus pandemic.
Lasse Larsen’s lawyer John Keenan pled not guilty on behalf of his client when the case was called at Glasgow High Court on Monday.
Larsen was not present for the case.
Thirty year old Larsen is accused of raping a woman at a house in Lerwick on 27 July last year.
The defence solicitor said: “He is resident in Denmark and clearly travel arrangements would have been difficult at this time.”
Both he and prosecutor Greg Farrell told the court they were ready for a trial to be set.
However, due to the coronavirus pandemic, this was not possible at this stage.
Lady Stacey instead adjourned until a further hearing can take place in September. The judge said: “Hopefully at that date a trial can be fixed.”
Larsen first appeared at Lerwick Sheriff Court on 29 July 2019 when he made no plea and was released on bail.
Grant McCabe (Glasgow Courts Press Agency)
If you have been affected by crime, help is available. Whether you are victim, a witness, or the accused, you can find independent, impartial, and confidential support in Shetland.
For victims of general crime:
Victim Support Shetland
Phone: 01595744524 or 0800 1601985
Web: https://victimsupport.scot/locations/victim-support-shetland/
Email: VictimSupportHighlandsIslands@victimsupportsco.org.uk
For anyone affected by crime & harm seeking a restorative approach:
Space2face
Phone: 07564 832467
Web: https://www.space2face.org
Email: info@space2face.org
For anyone affected by gender-based violence, including domestic abuse, coercive control, stalking, sexual assault, and rape:
Shetland Women’s Aid
Phone: 01595 692070
Web: https://www.shetlandwa.org
Email: office@shetlandwa.org
The Compass Centre (Shetland Rape Crisis)
Phone: 01595 744402 or 08088 010302
Web: https://www.compasscentre.org
Email: contact@compasscentre.org
For anyone affected by substance use:
Shetland Recovery Hub and Community Network
Phone: 01595 744402
Web: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100075791869200
Email: recoveryhub@shetland.gov.uk
Shetland Alcohol & Drug Partnership
Phone: 01595 743060 or 07342 077789
Web: https://shetlandadp.org.uk
Email: shet.sadp@nhs.scot
Substance Use Recovery Service
Phone: 01595 743006
