A Bulgarian man has told a court he pushed a 12-year-old girl after spotting a knife under her T-shirt, fearing she was about to attack his sister.
Iilia Belov, 22, is accused of assaulting the girl during an incident in the Lochee area of Dundee in August last year. The case is being heard at Dundee Sheriff Court.
Giving evidence on Thursday, Belov said he was with his father on the way to buy cigarettes when they passed a group of young girls walking in the opposite direction. He claimed one of the girls made "disrespectful" remarks, including calling him a "son of a bitch" and a "f****** migrant".
After they passed, the girls continued shouting at him, prompting Belov to turn back and follow them, leaving his father to continue to the shop. He told the court: "I went back to ask why they are disrespecting me." When asked why he did not walk away, he replied: "Because I am human. I deserve to ask them why I deserve so much disrespect."
Belov said more girls then arrived, and he called his sister because he was worried. When she arrived, a physical altercation broke out between his sister and one of the girls. During this, Belov said he saw another girl had a knife tucked under her T-shirt and pushed her over to protect his sister. "I pushed the other girl who was wearing the weapons because I saw the knife on her back," he said, adding that he could see the handle and thought she was going to "do something" with it. "I pushed her away before anything happened."
After she got back up, the girl brandished the knife and an axe she had concealed, which Belov said was the first time he saw her holding them. "She held the knife and axe and tried to get to us," he said.
Prosecutor Michael Robertson cross-examined Belov, suggesting that as an adult he could have walked away or called the police. Belov accepted this but said he was "not sure" whether staying had been wrong. He denied directing sexual remarks at any of the girls, insisting he only wanted to ask why they were disrespecting him.
The prosecutor disputed whether Belov had seen the knife before pushing the girl, suggesting he only saw it after she stood up. CCTV footage was shown, which Robertson said indicated the girl was behind Belov immediately before the push. Belov denied this, stating the girl had been "acting aggressively" and he could "easily see what's on her back".
Earlier in the trial, the girl testified that she had the axe and knife in her waistband for five to 10 minutes before the incident and brandished them after the physical altercation. She said she "knew" Belov would "try to go for (the other girl) again". She also alleged Belov said: "Come here sexy. I will show you how to have a good time," making her feel "angry".
Belov denies all charges. The trial continues.
