A man has denied murdering two people at a flat in Dundee — and claims he was acting in self defence when they died.
Krzysztof Gadecki, 38, is accused of stabbing to death Ronald Kidd and Holly Alexander in Rosefield Street between December 8 and 11 last year.
He denies assaulting and murdering 40-year-old Mr Kidd by repeatedly striking him on the head and body with a knife or similar instrument.
He also denies assaulting and murdering Ms Alexander, 37, by repeatedly striking her on the head and body with a knife or similar instrument.
Gadecki lodged a special defence of self defence at a hearing at the High Court in Glasgow on Tuesday.
He also denies that between the same dates at the same location he stole a set of keys, three watches, a pocket watch, a silver chain, a flask, two wallets and their contents, a sum of money and a quantity of heroin and diazepam.
He denies a fourth charge that between December 8 and 11 last year, having murdered Mr Kidd and Ms Alexander, he attempted to defeat the ends of justice at an address in Benvie Road and elsewhere in Dundee by washing clothing and disposing of a pair of trainers and a mobile phone, depriving the authorities of the opportunity to submit them for forensic analysis.
Further charges of behaving in a threatening and abusive manner, threatening other people, demanding money and robbing a man, all at the same address and between the same dates as the alleged murders, were withdrawn by the Crown, as was a charge of possessing diazepam, heroin and cannabis at the same address in Rosefield Street, between January 1 and December 11 last year.
A charge of being concerned in the supply of both amphetamine and cannabis between January 1 and December 11 last year, at different addresses in Dundee, was also withdrawn.
Judge Lady Scott set a trial date of September 19 at the High Court in Edinburgh.
A further preliminary hearing is due to be held on June 30 at the High Court in Glasgow, to allow telephone analysis material to be produced as evidence in the interim.
The trial is expected to last up to 15 days.
Gadecki was remanded in custody.
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