Kyle Rattray’s defence said they would look into his mental health, including whether he had autism and diminished responsibility.
A man has pleaded not guilty to the allegedly racist murder of a scientist in Dundee.
Kyle Rattray, 21, is accused of attacking Dr Fortune Gomo, 39, near her home on South Road on July 5 2025.
He is accused of striking her repeatedly on the body with a knife, which prosecutors say was aggravated by race, nationality or ethnicity.
They say he will be charged under the Hate Crime and Public Order Crime Act.
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Rattray, 21, faces another charge of illegally having a knife in public.
He pleaded not guilty during a remote hearing via video link at the High Court in Glasgow on Monday.
Iain Paterson KC, defending Rattray, said a mental health report would be prepared in the coming months and that Professor Baron-Cohen would assess whether Rattray had autism “which might link it to a mental health defence – whether his responsibility was diminished regarding this particular crime”.
Mr Paterson said there was “no getting away” that it was a “troubling case”.
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It was agreed that the trial would begin in January 2028 at the High Court in Dundee.
Dr Gomo, a Scottish Water employee, had studied in Scotland and Zimbabwe, and was also a mother.
In July, tributes were paid to the “exceptional” scientist who had started her job less than six months before her death and was praised as a “highly valued” colleague.
She had graduated from the National University of Science and Technology, in Zimbabwe, and obtained a PhD in Geography and Environmental Science from the University of Dundee, according to social media.
Professor Simon Parsons, director of environment planning and assurance at Scottish Water, said: “Everyone at Scottish Water, where Dr Fortune Gomo worked, is shocked and saddened by her death and we send our deepest sympathies to her family and friends.
“Fortune was an exceptional scientist and a senior service planner in our water resources planning section based in Dundee where, having joined us in February, she had already become a highly valued and respected member of our team.
“We are supporting her colleagues at Scottish Water following this incident.”
During the summer, Police Scotland urged the public to avoid sharing “misinformation” about the case.