Death driver married key witness

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A man has avoided a possible jail sentence after a death by dangerous driving charge was dropped when he married a witness.

William Dow, 24, received 200 hours community service for dangerous driving after the fatal crash in Aberdeenshire.

Another driver, Alexander Baird, 21, died in June last year. Dow later married his own female passenger who then did not have to give evidence.

Dow admitted the lesser charge and was sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow.

Oil worker Dow, of Peterhead, had originally been charged with causing the death of Mr Baird on the A975 Rashierieve to Cruden Bay road.

Given the amount of other evidence in the case it struck me as puzzling the suggestion that the marriage had affected the decision making process Lord Bracadale

However by the time he appeared for trial at the High Court in Aberdeen last month he had married his fiancée who was in the car and whose evidence would no longer be available to the Crown.

Scots law says a person cannot be compelled to give evidence against their spouse.

Dow admitted the lesser charge of driving dangerously.

His Subaru Impreza and Mr Baird's Renault Clio had both been driving at speeds of about 90mph along countryside roads before the crash.

'So sorry'

The judge, Lord Bracadale, said the original charges would have attracted a lengthy jail term.

He said: "Given the amount of other evidence in the case it struck me as puzzling the suggestion that the marriage had affected the decision making process."

He said the plea meant Dow was not regarded as responsible for Mr Baird's death.

Afterwards Dow, who was also disqualified from driving for four years, said: "I have been living under a great strain for the last 18 months with this hanging over me.

"Although I was not responsible for Alexander's death it's had a considerable impact on me.

"I just feel so sorry for his parents because of what they have had to go through."