This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/7029660.stm
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Jack death driver given 12 years | Jack death driver given 12 years |
| (29 minutes later) | |
| The driver who killed 10-year-old schoolboy Jack Anderson in a hit-and-run in Edinburgh has been jailed for 12 years. | The driver who killed 10-year-old schoolboy Jack Anderson in a hit-and-run in Edinburgh has been jailed for 12 years. |
| Isaac Purcell, 26, admitted culpable homicide after a nine-day trial at the High Court in Glasgow. | Isaac Purcell, 26, admitted culpable homicide after a nine-day trial at the High Court in Glasgow. |
| A charge of murder was withdrawn after two days of legal debate. | A charge of murder was withdrawn after two days of legal debate. |
| Jack's father, Michael, criticised Purcell for his "callous lack of remorse" over the death of his son, who was killed on Saughton Road North. | Jack's father, Michael, criticised Purcell for his "callous lack of remorse" over the death of his son, who was killed on Saughton Road North. |
| You placed the lives of everyone in your wake in serious danger Lord Uist | You placed the lives of everyone in your wake in serious danger Lord Uist |
| He said: "I would like to thank Lord Uist for his handling of the case, and his strong condemnation of Isaac Purcell's actions. | He said: "I would like to thank Lord Uist for his handling of the case, and his strong condemnation of Isaac Purcell's actions. |
| "Lothian and Borders Police, the Crown Office and the Procurator Fiscal Service worked hard to show the details of Isaac Purcell's criminally reckless driving, and I would like to thank them for that. | "Lothian and Borders Police, the Crown Office and the Procurator Fiscal Service worked hard to show the details of Isaac Purcell's criminally reckless driving, and I would like to thank them for that. |
| "I would also like to thank our friends and family, and all those who have helped and supported us. | "I would also like to thank our friends and family, and all those who have helped and supported us. |
| "I am shocked by what I have heard about Isaac Purcell's previous record, and the manner of his driving. His callous lack of remorse is unbelievable. | "I am shocked by what I have heard about Isaac Purcell's previous record, and the manner of his driving. His callous lack of remorse is unbelievable. |
| "The sentence he has received today can never compensate for the loss of Jack." | "The sentence he has received today can never compensate for the loss of Jack." |
| Purcell lodged the plea exactly a year after Jack was knocked down and killed while using a pedestrian crossing on Saughton Road North. | Purcell lodged the plea exactly a year after Jack was knocked down and killed while using a pedestrian crossing on Saughton Road North. |
| READ THE RULING HMA v Isaac Purcell - High Court ruling [69KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here | |
| Purcell, who has a string of driving convictions, was also banned from driving for life by Lord Uist. | Purcell, who has a string of driving convictions, was also banned from driving for life by Lord Uist. |
| The judge told him: "The course of wild and reckless driving in which you engaged before, during and after this death was wholly atrocious in nature. | The judge told him: "The course of wild and reckless driving in which you engaged before, during and after this death was wholly atrocious in nature. |
| "You placed the lives of everyone in your wake in serious danger. | "You placed the lives of everyone in your wake in serious danger. |
| "It's fortunate that you didn't cause a further death." | "It's fortunate that you didn't cause a further death." |
| Lord Uist said the quick thinking of a lollipop lady outside a school had helped prevent any further fatalities. | Lord Uist said the quick thinking of a lollipop lady outside a school had helped prevent any further fatalities. |
| Giving evidence during the trial, Purcell said he did not see Jack on the crossing as he was overtaking a car. | Giving evidence during the trial, Purcell said he did not see Jack on the crossing as he was overtaking a car. |
| He told the court how he deliberately jumped red lights to escape a police car and said he had failed to stop because he "panicked". | He told the court how he deliberately jumped red lights to escape a police car and said he had failed to stop because he "panicked". |
| Purcell said that five months after Jack's death he wrote a letter to the schoolboy's parents confessing that he was the driver of the car. | Purcell said that five months after Jack's death he wrote a letter to the schoolboy's parents confessing that he was the driver of the car. |
| Jack Anderson died on 5 October 2006 | |
| He said that the reply he received from Jack's parents, Michael and Yvonne, convinced him to hand himself in to the police. He did so in March this year after going to see his children. | He said that the reply he received from Jack's parents, Michael and Yvonne, convinced him to hand himself in to the police. He did so in March this year after going to see his children. |
| Purcell has convictions dating back to 1997 for dangerous driving, one for drink-driving and three for driving while disqualified. | Purcell has convictions dating back to 1997 for dangerous driving, one for drink-driving and three for driving while disqualified. |
| He was also convicted of robbery in 1995. | He was also convicted of robbery in 1995. |
| Advocate-depute Alex Prentice QC told the court that Purcell was understood to be a member of the travelling communities in the Cheshire and Wrexham areas. | Advocate-depute Alex Prentice QC told the court that Purcell was understood to be a member of the travelling communities in the Cheshire and Wrexham areas. |
| He detailed how a massive police operation was launched to track down Purcell after he went on the run following the incident on 5 October last year. | He detailed how a massive police operation was launched to track down Purcell after he went on the run following the incident on 5 October last year. |
| A European Arrest Warrant was obtained and issued to Irish Police in January following a tip-off that Purcell might be there. | A European Arrest Warrant was obtained and issued to Irish Police in January following a tip-off that Purcell might be there. |
| But he handed himself in to police voluntarily on 7 March this year. | But he handed himself in to police voluntarily on 7 March this year. |