Driver caused death of woman knocked down metres away from fatal crash
A driver who knocked down and killed a woman metres away from another fatal collision has been ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work.
Anthony Burke, 60, struck Gloria Graham, 64, on Glasgow city centre's Elmbank Street on February 2, 2023.
The mum-of-two crossed the road at a junction and was hit by Burke's Volkswagen Tiguan while he made a turn onto the road.
The incident was witnessed by emergency crews who were at the scene attending to another crash.
Ms Graham was taken to hospital but died a month later on March 1, 2023.
First offender Burke pleaded guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to causing Ms Graham's death by careless driving.
The supermarket worker was disqualified from driving for 12 months and put under supervision for one year at sentencing.
Sheriff Louise Arrol, KC said: 'The collision investigator says that she was clearly visible, but you failed to observe her.
'She suffered a serious injury and was unresponsive.
'The court expresses its remorse to Ms Graham's friends and family.
'I should make it clear that the sentence imposed is in absolutely no way equal to her tragic loss of life.'
The court earlier heard that Burke was travelling home after volunteering to help refugees at the Millennium Hotel.
CCTV showed a number of police vans and ambulances with flashing lights at the other fatal incident.
It is believed that Ms Graham was on her route home to nearby Argyle Street when she spoke to a police officer.
The footage saw Ms Graham cross the road and walk towards the pavement.
She then crossed Elmbank Street, which she walked on for almost five seconds.
Burke did a turn into Elmbank Street while Ms Graham was crossing.
Prosecutor Kathleen O'Donnell said: 'He braked to slow the vehicle through the manoeuvre but did not stop.
'Ms Graham was struck by the car and came to rest on the road then the vehicle stopped.'
Police officers, an off-duty GP and a paramedic raced from the other scene to Ms Graham's aid.
She was found to have suffered a bleeding head injury and was taken by ambulance to hospital.
Ms Graham also sustained rib and pelvic fractures as well as a wound to her lung.
Her cause of death was found to be 'bronchopneumonia due to traumatic brain injury due to road traffic collision'.
A collision investigation found that Burke had 'sufficient time' to see Ms Graham on the road and come to a stop.
It was stated that Burke, of Giffnock, East Renfrewshire, was driving between ten to 15 miles per hour but speed was 'not an issue' for the collision.
Michael Lyons, defending, told the sentencing: 'I recognise this was an utterly tragic case.
'Mr Bruke has asked me to express in open court his sincere apologies and condolences to Miss Graham's friends and family.'
The other fatal case nearby involved Akbar Razaq, who struck pedestrian Chinenye Okonkwo.
Razaq mounted the pavement while travelling at 60mph in a 30mph zone.
Ms Okonkwo, 33, from Nigeria, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Lord Mulholland told the High Court in Glasgow her death was an 'utter tragedy'.
Razaq, 29, was remanded in custody after he admitted a charge of causing death by dangerous driving
Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News
Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
9 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Man who was on sperm donor TV show ‘raped partner when she tried to dump him', court told
The court was told the pair had dated until November 2022 but the woman got fed up with Kennedy allegedly slapping and kicking her TRIAL CLAIM Man who was on sperm donor TV show 'raped partner when she tried to dump him', court told Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A MAN who was in a TV show called Britain's Super Sperm Donors raped his partner when she tried to dump him, a court was told. The woman, 23, said Mitchell Kennedy, 42, told her he'd be going away to help another female get pregnant. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Mitchell Kennedy is accused of raping his partner after she tried to dump him 2 Kennedy is on trial at the High Court in Aberdeen Credit: PA But she claimed he attacked her after she invited him round to her flat in Aberdeen so she could break up with him. She said Kennedy pinned her against a wardrobe before he stripped her naked then took his own clothes off. The woman told the city's High Court: 'He started to kiss me on my neck and on the top of my chest. 'He picked me up and took me to the bed. He ended up on top of me. I didn't want that. 'I told him 'No' multiple times. He didn't say anything at all. He just kept going.' The woman testified she met Kennedy on social media. But his online profile said he was 30 when he was really 38. She said in a video interview: 'He didn't tell me his real age. I found that through Google.' The court was told the pair had dated until November 2022 but the woman got fed up with Kennedy allegedly slapping and kicking her. She said: 'He is a sperm donor. He was talking about where he was going next. Lyons family insist rival Daniel crew had NOTHING to do with Spain shootings "He was going away to donate to someone in a few days' time.' Kennedy had appeared in the Channel 4 documentary in 2018. The woman alleged he raped her for up to 15 minutes. She told jurors her cousin phoned while she was in the toilet, cleaning herself up. The woman testified: 'I threw Mitch's clothes at him. I said you have to leave now. 'He just laughed. He eventually dressed very slowly.' She said she spoke to pals who were waiting outside her flat. The woman claimed: 'I said Mitch had raped me.' Her pals helped her put her bedding and clothes in black bags in case she wanted to go to the cops, the court heard, and she reported the alleged incident the following day. Mitchell denies rape plus physically and verbally abusing his ex-girlfriend between July 2021 and November 2022. The trial continues before Judge Graham Buchanan.
Daily Mirror
11 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Rebekah Vardy puts huge £9.7million home on market after 'time for change'
The magnificent property in the exclusive golf resort of Quinta do Lago has been used by the Vardy family as a holiday home, and been advertised as a 'sanctuary' for the couple Rebekah Vardy is putting her lavish Portuguese villa, which she and husband Jamie refer to as their 'sanctuary', on the market for a hopeful £9.7million. Just last month, Rebekah, 43, was instructed by a judge to contribute £1.2m towards Coleen Rooney's legal fees, in addition to her own bill, believed to be over £2million, from the disastrous libel claim she initiated in 2022. The High Court case left her reputation 'in ruins' and had a similar impact on her 'brand' with potential advertisers. While her husband Jamie, 38, has remained one of the Premier League's top earners, raking in an estimated £7.3m at Leicester City last season, and now rumoured to be considering a transfer to Manchester United, reports have speculated that the family may have decided to sell the home due to the significant hit from the Wagatha scandal and its fallout. Giant palm tree that 'adds a sunny desert island feel to your patio' has £150 off In recent years, the Vardys have let out their cherished villa on the exclusive golf resort of Quinta do Lago for up to £30,000 a week, but they've now reluctantly decided to put it up for sale. However, a friend of the couple told the Mirror: "They are selling the Portuguese pad - and are looking at different holiday places now. They had some great times there, but just decided it was time for a change. It's actually laughable for anyone to think it has anything to do with the court case. Nothing could be further from the truth. And that's shown by the fact that they are looking for a new holiday pad." The property has been listed for sale with high-end estate agents Knight Frank, carrying an impressive £9.7 million price tag. Although prices have surged in the Algarve recently, by as much as 16 per cent according to some estimates, the Vardys' villa is certainly priced on the 'optimistic side', according to one agent who spoke to MailOnline under the condition of anonymity. "It's undoubtedly a stunning and very modern property, but there are many more traditionally-styled places in that area which some people might prefer, of similar size, but priced a lot more competitively," he remarked. The villa, boasting three pools, a gym, a steam room and six bedrooms, commands a view over the 18th green of the resort's North course. Knight Frank has praised the property, stating: "This magnificent property, built over four levels, showcases meticulous attention to lifestyle details." The four-storey residence also features a cinema room, roof terrace and sauna, spread across approximately 0.64 acres. The details further reveal: 'In addition to the three external pools, which epitomise a contemporary lifestyle, the villa includes a central electro-chromic glass lift accessing each floor. "The impressively landscaped gardens complement the property's style, creating a true haven for modern living. The villa is conveniently located within walking distance of the golf course and other renowned amenities within the Quinta do Lago resort." In 2022, the couple experienced a fright when their luxury villa was threatened by nearby forest fires. A family insider disclosed to The Sun: "It's been horrifying. Their neighbours have all been evacuated, and one by one, residents are being told to leave their homes. "Becky can see smoke everywhere, and she's terrified about the kids breathing it in. The water is also down, so she's relying on bottled water, which, obviously, there is only a finite amount of at home. "Jamie and their friends and family back home have all been really worried. Things are developing by the hour, but she's praying the fire brigades, who have been brilliant, can get things back under control. She's genuinely worried. Things are evolving by the hour, but she's hoping that the fire brigades, who have been outstanding, can regain control," she expressed. Vardy lost a High Court case against the I'm A Celeb star in 2022 after being publicly accused of leaking stories about her to the media. The infamous Wagatha Christie saga was sparked by a dramatic open letter penned by Mrs Rooney and shared on social media in October 2019. In it, she disclosed that she had played detective to uncover who had been leaking stories to the press. Rooney publicly alleged that Mrs Vardy's account was the source behind three newspaper stories featuring fabricated details she had posted on her private Instagram profile - her trip to Mexico for a 'gender selection' procedure, her plans to return to TV, and the flooding in her home's basement. Rebekah furiously denied the allegation and attempted to sue Coleen, launching a libel case that took the WAGs all the way to the High Court. The 2022 trial didn't go Rebekah 's way and the judge ruled in favour of Rooney.
Edinburgh Live
12 hours ago
- Edinburgh Live
Michael Ross still in 'no man's land' as Prime Video drops Orkney Assassin documentary
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Michael Ross' solicitor has claimed that his client, who maintains his innocence, is stuck in "no man's land" three decades after being convicted of murder. Back in June 1994, a masked figure donning a balaclava entered the Mumataz Restaurant in Kirwall at about 7.10pm and fatally shot 26-year-old waiter Shamsuddin Mahmood before exiting the scene. Despite 14 years going by, Ross, then aged 15, was apprehended and found guilty of the crime in 2008. Following his conviction at the High Court in Glasgow, Ross notoriously attempted to flee but was thwarted and now remains incarcerated for life at HMP Shotts in Lanarkshire, as reported by the BBC. Prime Video has recently unveiled a one-off special titled The Orkney Assassin: Murder In The Isles, which includes interviews with officers, eyewitnesses, journalists, and Ross' parents,. In an exclusive chat with Screen Time prior to the documentary airing, Ross' lawyer Aamer Anwar provided an insight into his client's current plight. (Image: PRIME VIDEO/ORKNEY PHOTOGRAPHIC) "I suppose he's very much in no man's land," he commented. "The difficulty with an appeal you've ever watched Shawshank Redemption and Andy comes into prison and Morgan Freeman tells him 'Don't you know everyone's innocent inside'. "But I've come to learn from over 25 years of being a lawyer that the reality is there are lots of innocent people inside prison. "How to prove it is another matter, because the system is almost a raid against human rights throughout the United Kingdom, to be able to fight your appeal and to prove your innocence. "And even if you say you have five pinnacles of evidence, five issues, and one is so critical. "For instance, someone comes in and lies about you and says 'I saw him, that's definitely him.' "But that person is ruled out, 'well we'll still rely on the other four afterwards.' "The damage is already done. So therein lies the problem, as in people remain convicted." Anwar then highlighted the crucial role of DNA in cases like Ross', stating: "The idea that someone could walk into a restaurant, shoot someone at point blank range and not leave anything of themselves, beggar's belief. "I always say to my lecture students, to commit a murder is extremely difficult. "To not leave anything of yourself: footprints, DNA, CCTV maybe, whatever it may be. "Fair enough, this is a remote island but there were still people there. "The idea that this person then disappears into the darkness? Then begs the question that people always said, 'well they never closed the ports of entry and exit.' "Is it somebody from off the island that came on, well how do they know? They didn't." Even though three decades have passed, Ross maintains his innocence, with the former Army sniper having attempted to break out of prison thrice, the latest being in 2018 when he tried to scale a fence. "You still have someone who claims he is innocent, who has never given up that he is innocent, who is still fighting to prove his innocence," Anwar added. "He could have made his life a lot easier by saying 'I did it.' A lot more chance of parole then, a lot more chance of getting out earlier." The Orkney Assassin: Murder In The Isles is available to watch on Prime Video.
