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Driver admits road rage killing | Driver admits road rage killing |
(20 minutes later) | |
A man has admitted the manslaughter of a fellow motorist after he "lost control" in a road rage incident. | A man has admitted the manslaughter of a fellow motorist after he "lost control" in a road rage incident. |
Graham Cahill, 44, of Hawthorne Drive, Harrow, north London, confronted Toby Cooke, from Luton, after a minor collision on the M1 in May 2008. | Graham Cahill, 44, of Hawthorne Drive, Harrow, north London, confronted Toby Cooke, from Luton, after a minor collision on the M1 in May 2008. |
The Old Bailey heard Cahill punched Mr Cooke once, causing him to fall. | The Old Bailey heard Cahill punched Mr Cooke once, causing him to fall. |
The 25-year-old died from injuries caused by his head striking the ground. Cahill will be sentenced on 16 April at Luton Crown Court. | The 25-year-old died from injuries caused by his head striking the ground. Cahill will be sentenced on 16 April at Luton Crown Court. |
'One forceful blow' | 'One forceful blow' |
The Old Bailey heard Cahill pulled onto the hard shoulder of the M1 to confront Mr Cooke over his driving. | The Old Bailey heard Cahill pulled onto the hard shoulder of the M1 to confront Mr Cooke over his driving. |
Mr Cooke rang 999 to report the incident, but Cahill became angry, believing that he was acting in a "cocky" way. | Mr Cooke rang 999 to report the incident, but Cahill became angry, believing that he was acting in a "cocky" way. |
As he grew increasingly agitated, Mr Cooke urged the emergency operator to "send someone out" believing Cahill was about to hit him. | As he grew increasingly agitated, Mr Cooke urged the emergency operator to "send someone out" believing Cahill was about to hit him. |
Graham Cahill was granted bail pending a report ahead of sentencing | |
Mr Cooke was heard urging Cahill to calm down, saying "nothing to worry about, nothing to worry about", before the sound of an apparent confrontation, the court heard. | Mr Cooke was heard urging Cahill to calm down, saying "nothing to worry about, nothing to worry about", before the sound of an apparent confrontation, the court heard. |
Ann Cotcher QC, prosecuting, said: "Mr Cahill threw one forceful blow, delivered in anger and not in self-defence." | Ann Cotcher QC, prosecuting, said: "Mr Cahill threw one forceful blow, delivered in anger and not in self-defence." |
The incident happened between junctions 11 and 12 on the northbound carriageway of the M1 on 26 May. | The incident happened between junctions 11 and 12 on the northbound carriageway of the M1 on 26 May. |
'Appalling consequences' | 'Appalling consequences' |
Cahill, a network management worker, later told police that Mr Cooke, a fork-lift truck driver, had undertaken him and caused a minor collision between them. | |
The court heard he told police: "His bad driving on the motorway and on the hard shoulder and demeanour when he called the police, and his attitude generally, all caused me to lose my self control." | The court heard he told police: "His bad driving on the motorway and on the hard shoulder and demeanour when he called the police, and his attitude generally, all caused me to lose my self control." |
This case is a tragedy on all sides Judge John Bevan | |
Judge John Bevan warned that a custodial sentence was "inevitable", but said he had in mind a term of between two-and-a-half and four-and-a-half years. | Judge John Bevan warned that a custodial sentence was "inevitable", but said he had in mind a term of between two-and-a-half and four-and-a-half years. |
The court heard how Cahill had dragged his victim to the side of the road and pleaded with passers-by for help after seeing what he had done and the judge accepted he had shown genuine remorse. | The court heard how Cahill had dragged his victim to the side of the road and pleaded with passers-by for help after seeing what he had done and the judge accepted he had shown genuine remorse. |
"This case is a tragedy on all sides," Judge Bevan said. | "This case is a tragedy on all sides," Judge Bevan said. |
"I am confronted with the prospect of having to sentence a perfectly respectable citizen who has committed an act which has had simply appalling consequences." | "I am confronted with the prospect of having to sentence a perfectly respectable citizen who has committed an act which has had simply appalling consequences." |