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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Death crash sentence 'disgusting' | Death crash sentence 'disgusting' |
| (1 day later) | |
| The family of a tyre fitter has described as "disgusting" the two-and-a-half year prison sentence handed down to the driver who caused his death. | The family of a tyre fitter has described as "disgusting" the two-and-a-half year prison sentence handed down to the driver who caused his death. |
| Andrew Ramsay, 50, of Bellshill, Lanarkshire, collided with Gavin Sutherland's stationary van and the lorry he was working on. | Andrew Ramsay, 50, of Bellshill, Lanarkshire, collided with Gavin Sutherland's stationary van and the lorry he was working on. |
| Another man, Bryan Duff, was injured in the incident on the A9 at Daviot, near Inverness, in October 2007. | Another man, Bryan Duff, was injured in the incident on the A9 at Daviot, near Inverness, in October 2007. |
| Mr Sutherland's twin brother Gordon said he had expected a longer sentence. | Mr Sutherland's twin brother Gordon said he had expected a longer sentence. |
| There is no suggestion that your bad driving was deliberate - it was however, again on the evidence, prolonged Lord BrailsfordJudge | There is no suggestion that your bad driving was deliberate - it was however, again on the evidence, prolonged Lord BrailsfordJudge |
| Outside the High Court in Glasgow, he said: "It's disgusting. | Outside the High Court in Glasgow, he said: "It's disgusting. |
| "I would like to have seen five years anyway." | "I would like to have seen five years anyway." |
| Mr Sutherland said his brother was an "absolutely brilliant guy", adding: "Not a day goes by that we don't think about him. | Mr Sutherland said his brother was an "absolutely brilliant guy", adding: "Not a day goes by that we don't think about him. |
| "He did not deserve this, no way did he deserve this. I felt today there was no justice done for Gavin." | "He did not deserve this, no way did he deserve this. I felt today there was no justice done for Gavin." |
| Ramsay was also disqualified from driving for four years. | Ramsay was also disqualified from driving for four years. |
| The scene of the crash at Daviot, near Inverness | |
| The judge Lord Brailsford said the offence fell into the "intermediate culpability" category. | The judge Lord Brailsford said the offence fell into the "intermediate culpability" category. |
| In May, the judge apologised to the victim's family for a delay in the sentencing because background reports were not ready. | In May, the judge apologised to the victim's family for a delay in the sentencing because background reports were not ready. |
| Mr Sutherland's family had travelled from Invergordon in the Highlands to Edinburgh to hear the sentence. | Mr Sutherland's family had travelled from Invergordon in the Highlands to Edinburgh to hear the sentence. |
| Earlier, Ramsay was found guilty of causing 41-year-old Mr Sutherland's death and injuring Mr Duff by dangerous driving. | Earlier, Ramsay was found guilty of causing 41-year-old Mr Sutherland's death and injuring Mr Duff by dangerous driving. |
| Ramsay denied the charge of death by dangerous driving. | Ramsay denied the charge of death by dangerous driving. |
| Wind rush | Wind rush |
| He had offered to plead guilty to the lesser charge of careless driving, but this was not accepted by the Crown. | He had offered to plead guilty to the lesser charge of careless driving, but this was not accepted by the Crown. |
| Ramsay was found guilty at the High Court in Dunfermline by the majority verdict of the jury. | Ramsay was found guilty at the High Court in Dunfermline by the majority verdict of the jury. |
| The court heard how Mr Sutherland, from Invergordon, had been replacing a punctured tyre on a lorry driven by Mr Duff, 33, of Portmahomack in Easter Ross. | The court heard how Mr Sutherland, from Invergordon, had been replacing a punctured tyre on a lorry driven by Mr Duff, 33, of Portmahomack in Easter Ross. |
| Mr Duff was swept off his feet by the wind rush from the crash and landed in the road, breaking a bone in his foot and injuring his shoulder. Since the smash he has had flashbacks and nightmares. | Mr Duff was swept off his feet by the wind rush from the crash and landed in the road, breaking a bone in his foot and injuring his shoulder. Since the smash he has had flashbacks and nightmares. |
| A young vet stopped at the scene and tried to give Mr Sutherland first aid, but her efforts were in vain. | A young vet stopped at the scene and tried to give Mr Sutherland first aid, but her efforts were in vain. |
| Lord Brailsford told the court that a recent English Court of Appeal case had set out "aggravating factors" which should be looked for in similar cases. | Lord Brailsford told the court that a recent English Court of Appeal case had set out "aggravating factors" which should be looked for in similar cases. |
| Gavin Sutherland had been working on a puncture | |
| He told Ramsay "only one" was present in his case - a "prolonged persistent and deliberate course of very bad driving". | He told Ramsay "only one" was present in his case - a "prolonged persistent and deliberate course of very bad driving". |
| The judge said: "I should make it clear that even that factor is not wholly satisfied because, on the evidence, there is no suggestion that your bad driving was deliberate - it was however, again on the evidence, prolonged. | The judge said: "I should make it clear that even that factor is not wholly satisfied because, on the evidence, there is no suggestion that your bad driving was deliberate - it was however, again on the evidence, prolonged. |
| "The lights of the recovery vehicle were visible to an oncoming vehicle such as yours for something in the order of half-a-mile to a mile." | "The lights of the recovery vehicle were visible to an oncoming vehicle such as yours for something in the order of half-a-mile to a mile." |
| Defence advocate Ian Duguid told the court that Ramsay had split with his partner in the aftermath of the crash and has been taking medication to deal with depression. | Defence advocate Ian Duguid told the court that Ramsay had split with his partner in the aftermath of the crash and has been taking medication to deal with depression. |
| He added: "It is hard to measure a loss of life and the grief of relatives against a custodial sentence. | He added: "It is hard to measure a loss of life and the grief of relatives against a custodial sentence. |
| "But Mr Ramsay apologises and regrets his actions." | "But Mr Ramsay apologises and regrets his actions." |