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Police officer caused taxi driver's death
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Author:  captain cab [ Wed Jun 20, 2012 5:14 pm ]
Post subject:  Police officer caused taxi driver's death
Police officer caused taxi driver's death in careless driving collision

A police officer has admitted causing the death of a taxi driver by careless driving.

Officer David Brown pled guilty to causing John Lacon’s death during a hearing at the High Court in Glasgow on Wednesday.

Brown’s lawyers put forward a plea of guilty to reduced charge of causing the death by careless driving, but it was rejected by the Crown, who have charged the officer with causing Mr Lacon’s death by dangerous driving.

The 29-year-old Strathclyde Police officer’s Ford Transit van collided with the Fiat Doblo taxi on Great Western Road in the city’s west end, near to its junction with Dorchester Avenue on April 29 last year.

Brown is accused of driving dangerously at speeds of more than 30mph and running a red light before colliding with the 65-year-old’s taxi.

Mr Lacon, of Verona Avenue, Scotstoun, died of his injuries on May 11, 2011 at Glasgow Western Infirmary.

Advocate Thomas Ross, defending, said: "I am tendering a plea to causing death by careless driving. The plea was tendered on the basis that Brown was not driving at speeds in excess of 30mph and did not drive through a red light."

Advocate depute Martin Macari, prosecuting, said: "This plea is rejected by the Crown." Mr Ross responded: "There will require to be a trial diet. There has been an acceptance of responsibility to some extent."

Brown will stand trial over the charge in October.


http://news.stv.tv/scotland/107183-poli ... ing-smash/
Author:  sasha [ Thu Jun 21, 2012 3:17 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Police officer caused taxi driver's death
Can't comment on the case itself as I don't know the full details (witnesses, CCTV);

But based on the plea are they saying that if you drive through a green light within the speed limit and someone else jumps a red light and crashes into you, YOU can be charged with careless driving !!?
Author:  bloodnock [ Thu Jun 21, 2012 3:40 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Police officer caused taxi driver's death
sasha wrote:
Can't comment on the case itself as I don't know the full details (witnesses, CCTV);

But based on the plea are they saying that if you drive through a green light within the speed limit and someone else jumps a red light and crashes into you, YOU can be charged with careless driving !!?



No..its based on

Quote:
Brown is accused of driving dangerously at speeds of more than 30mph and running a red light before colliding with the 65-year-old’s taxi.


Which he Apparently denies..
Author:  sasha [ Fri Jun 22, 2012 5:40 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Police officer caused taxi driver's death
But there's no evidence to prove he was driving faster then 30mph or that he went through a red light, if there was then they would have been unable to enter a plea. What I can't understand is how they can be asking for a reduced charge if no offence has been commited, if he didn't jump the lights the other person must have. How can it be that if you or I was driving along totally legally and someone else drives into you that you can end up being charged with careless/dangerous driving ?
Author:  gusmac [ Fri Jun 22, 2012 5:57 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Police officer caused taxi driver's death
sasha wrote:
But there's no evidence to prove he was driving faster then 30mph or that he went through a red light,


The crown must think there is. How do you know what evidence there is or isn't?

Quote:
What I can't understand is how they can be asking for a reduced charge if no offence has been commited, if he didn't jump the lights the other person must have. How can it be that if you or I was driving along totally legally and someone else drives into you that you can end up being charged with careless/dangerous driving ?


Police politics perhaps or an attempt to avoid a prison sentence. They obviously thought the crown would go for it.
Either way, he has admitted culpability IMHO, they're just arguing the toss about how reckless he was or wasn't.
Author:  sasha [ Sat Jun 23, 2012 6:30 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Police officer caused taxi driver's death
gusmac wrote:
sasha wrote:
But there's no evidence to prove he was driving faster then 30mph or that he went through a red light,


The crown must think there is. How do you know what evidence there is or isn't?

I don't. I'm just saying that if there was for example CCTV that showed him jumping a red light then he couldn't turn around and deny it. 'I didn't go through a red light' - 'but here's CCTV showing that you did' - 'well in that case I'm entering a plea that I didn't'
Author:  gusmac [ Sat Jun 23, 2012 6:37 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Police officer caused taxi driver's death
sasha wrote:
gusmac wrote:
sasha wrote:
But there's no evidence to prove he was driving faster then 30mph or that he went through a red light,


The crown must think there is. How do you know what evidence there is or isn't?

I don't. I'm just saying that if there was for example CCTV that showed him jumping a red light then he couldn't turn around and deny it. 'I didn't go through a red light' - 'but here's CCTV showing that you did' - 'well in that case I'm entering a plea that I didn't'


There must be evidence, otherwise the crown would have accepted a guilty plea to a reduced charge.
CCTV? (some police vehicles are fitted with it) or an independent witness maybe?

I'm sure we will find out in due course.
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