A WOMAN has gone on trial accused of entering a mannequin as a candidate in a local Government election.
Renee-Margaret Slater allegedly put Helena Torry forward to stand as a candidate in last year's city council elections in Aberdeen.
It is claimed the 64-year-old lodged the name on an official nomination document and delivered the paperwork to the city's Returning Officer.
Slater is claimed to have visited Returning Officer Crawford Langley at council offices in Aberdeen.
Depute fiscal Sandy Hutchison showed Mr Langley nomination paperwork with the name of Helena Torry registered as a candidate.
Mr Hutchison asked: "Do you recall this paper being handed to you?" He replied: "I do. It was handed to me by a person who I understand to be Renee Slater."
The court heard that one of two documents handed to the Returning Officer named Renee Slater as the candidate's agent.
The paperwork stated that Helena Torry was being nominated to stand in the Hazlehead and Queen's Cross ward.
Mr Langley told the court his role was to check that the paperwork had been filled out correctly and it was not his duty to check facts.
He said the paperwork was lodged an hour before the close of nominations and that the form was processed because he believed it was a valid entry.
The court heard that the Notice of Polls, which lists the candidates, had to be republished when he became aware of a potential issue the following day.
Slater, of Aberdeen, denies putting forward a candidate that she knew to be a mannequin into the local government elections on March 29 last year.
The trial continues.
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