THE case of a Greenock psychiatric patient charged with scarring a staff nurse for life in 2019 has been postponed yet again after prosecutors failed to cite witnesses for a fourth time.

A hearing called an 'examination of facts' regarding the matter involving 37-year-old Graeme Perry had been due to take place at the sheriff court.

But a fiscal depute admitted that her office had again not contacted witnesses in order for them to give evidence at the special hearing.

The prosecutor — in making a motion to adjourn matters — said: "This is the fourth examination of facts [diet]. Witnesses were cited in December and they required to be manually cited and this has not been been done."

Perry was charged with leaving the nurse, a woman, severely injured, permanently disfigured and permanently impaired in an alleged serious assault at the Langhill Unit on July 25, 2019.

He was accused at the time of seizing the nurse by her body and throwing her against a wall.

Defence lawyer Aidan Gallagher opposed the Crown motion on grounds of the procedural history of the case.

Mr Gallagher said: "There were Crown motions to adjourn for the same reason last September, October and November.

"Here we are in January 2023, when the matter complained of is dated July 2019."

Mr Gallagher added: "Mr Perry is unfortunately no better and is now in the State Hospital and subject to a compulsory treatment order.

"He has been in hospital for some number of years now.

"We have four occasions where the witnesses simply have not been cited by the Crown."

Sheriff James Varney decided to give the Crown one final opportunity to cite the necessary witnesses.

The sheriff said: "In the circumstances I am satisfied that in the public interest that this matter be allowed to continue.

"I will mark on my papers that this will be the last adjournment."

The delayed examination of facts is now due to take place on February 22.