https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/renfrewshire-high-court-glasgow-cctv-b1259517.html

25 November 2025

Albanian accused of chasing police with chainsaw not offered interpreter – court

An Albanian man accused of wielding a chainsaw at police officers whom he allegedly chased down a busy street was not offered an interpreter or a solicitor before he was charged by detectives, a court heard. [...]

He has denied attempting to murder four police officers.

Kastrati had also been charged with breach of the peace and motoring offences, which he denied, and was acquitted of these at the close of the Crown case on Monday when the prosecution withdrew those four charges.

Judge Gallacher said: “I acquit you of those charges.”

Earlier on Monday, the High Court in Paisley heard that Kastrati spoke “broken English” but was not offered an interpreter, and referred to the collision on four occasions as being a “car accident”, when he was charged with attempted murder later the same day.

Giving evidence, Detective Constable Stephen Solomon confirmed that Kastrati was not offered a consultation with a solicitor before being charged, and was not offered an Albanian interpreter. [...]

Defending, John Scullion KC said that detectives had 12 hours to hold Kastrati without charge but did not provide him with an interpreter.

A video of the police interview was shown to the court, showing Dc Solomon saying: “I’m going to charge you but before I do so I’m going to question you. You don’t need to reply to the charge.”

The detective then asked Kastrati “do you understand the charge?” and “do you wish to make a reply”, with no interpreter present. [...]

Defending, Mr Scullion said: “He would have been entitled to consultation with a solicitor, it was obvious he hadn’t had one. Did you check he had before charging him?”

Dc Solomon said: “No, I didn’t check.”

Mr Scullion said: “You were aware he is Albanian and it’s clear in the video he spoke broken English.”

The detective said: “He wasn’t fluent but could have a conversation. I wouldn’t say it was totally broken.”

Mr Scullion said that many of the charges involved “technical language” but Kastrati did not have an interpreter and was not offered one.

Dc Solomon said: “I felt he could understand what was said.”

Mr Scullion said that at the time Kastrati was charged, there was an additional five hours before police could no longer hold him without charge. [...]

“But, throughout the procedure, it didn’t occur to you to get somebody in as an interpreter.”

Dc Solomon said: “No.” [...]