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| Scots' Shetland claim challenged | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A campaigner is trying to persuade a court that the Shetland Islands are not legally part of Scotland. | A campaigner is trying to persuade a court that the Shetland Islands are not legally part of Scotland. |
| Stuart Hill, 65, who settled on Shetland in 2001, is the defender in a civil action but will argue that Scots law has no jurisdiction over him. | |
| Scotland's claim to Shetland dates back to 1469 when King Christian of Denmark pawned the islands to the Scots crown. | Scotland's claim to Shetland dates back to 1469 when King Christian of Denmark pawned the islands to the Scots crown. |
| At Lerwick Sheriff Court, Mr Hill will say it was only meant to be a long-term loan until the debt could be redeemed. | At Lerwick Sheriff Court, Mr Hill will say it was only meant to be a long-term loan until the debt could be redeemed. |
| No jurisdiction | No jurisdiction |
| Mr Hill, originally from Essex, has lived in Shetland since his boat capsized while he was trying to circumnavigate the British Isles, earning him the nickname Captain Calamity. | |
| He said his research had led him to the "inescapable conclusion" that at no point in Shetland's history did the Crown acquire ownership of the islands. | He said his research had led him to the "inescapable conclusion" that at no point in Shetland's history did the Crown acquire ownership of the islands. |
| Mr Hill intends to argue that case on Tuesday, when he is due to appear as the defender in a civil action being brought by a local accountancy firm. | Mr Hill intends to argue that case on Tuesday, when he is due to appear as the defender in a civil action being brought by a local accountancy firm. |
| He will claim that the court - indeed the whole of Scots law - has no jurisdiction over him. | He will claim that the court - indeed the whole of Scots law - has no jurisdiction over him. |
| Mr Hill wants to redefine Shetland's relationships with Scotland, the UK, and the European Union. | Mr Hill wants to redefine Shetland's relationships with Scotland, the UK, and the European Union. |
| Historians have traditionally accepted that Scotland did legally annex the islands, along with Orkney. | Historians have traditionally accepted that Scotland did legally annex the islands, along with Orkney. |