Livingston owner Massone faces drinks charge

Apr 23 2009 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

CRISIS club Livingston FC has been rocked by another scandal after outspoken owner Angelo Massone appeared in court charged with being drunk in charge of a car.

Appearing yesterday (Wednesday) at Edinburgh Sheriff Court the charge alleges Mr Massone was in charge of the car in Edinburgh's Bonnington Road, on November 29 last year.

The owner maintained his not guilty plea to having 59 microgrammes of alcohol in his breath per 100 millilitres. The legal limit is 35 microgrammes.

This was the Italian’s second hearing after the first was postponed because Mr Massone didn’t have an interpreter.

A trial date was fixed by the court for August 13 with an interim hearing two weeks before on July 30.

Solicitor Graeme Clark, representing Mr Massone, revealed to Sheriff James Farrell there had been a change of agents and his firm had only taken instructions from Mr Massone on Tuesday.

Mr Clark requested a new trial date, explaining that a vital defence witness was in Italy.