Latest news with #Manyatelo
Daily Mail
30-04-2025
- Daily Mail
Five years for driver who ran over and killed pensioner after inhaling laughing gas
A driver who inhaled laughing gas before he killed a frail pensioner as she crossed a road with her walking stick has been jailed for five years. Washe Manyatelo was driving a Mercedes C220 at excessive speed when he struck Annette Dixon, 70, after she got off a bus in Edinburgh. The 24-year-old - who fell asleep in a police car following the incident - later refused to provide a blood sample for testing claiming that it was against his religion, the High Court in Edinburgh heard. The convicted drug trafficker admitted causing the death of his victim by driving dangerously on August 26 in 2023, when he appeared at court earlier this year. He appeared at the same court to be sentenced yesterday where judge Lady Ross said: 'The night before, you had been at a party. You had not slept at all that night, or into the following day. 'You said that you would take some friends to their homes, and thought that you felt fine to drive, but that arrogant self-assessment of your condition was woefully wrong. 'This was a lady in her later years who was much loved by her family. 'I have read the victim impact statements, provided by her children, and they make it very clear that they were close to her and that she is missed terribly. 'The impact on them, and on other family members has been profound, and it continues. 'The sentence that I impose will not come close to matching their sorrow and their pain, and it cannot measure the value of Mrs Dixon's life. No sentence could do that.' The court earlier heard how Manyatelo drove the car at excessive speed having inhaled nitrous oxide and failed to maintain proper observations. He went into the opposing carriageway, mounted a pavement and grass verge and back onto the road where he struck the pensioner. Officers found four deflated balloons in his car along with a nitrous oxide canister. Manyatelo, who is currently serving a jail sentence for being concerned in the supply of cannabis, was found to have cocaine worth up to £1,400 on the streets, secreted on him internally after the crash. It was discovered that the borrowed Mercedes he was driving would have failed an MOT because of the state of the tyres which would have affected steering and handling. During a search of Manyatelo, of Edinburgh, officers found a further balloon, similar to those seen in his car, and discovered he had 18 grams of cocaine hidden internally in a plastic bag. Lady Ross also banned Manyatelo from driving for eight years and 10 months.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Yahoo
Mercedes driver high on laughing gas jailed for killing pensioner
A driver who inhaled laughing gas and killed a woman while speeding in a Mercedes has been jailed for five years. Washe Manyatelo, 24, struck Annette Dixon, 70, in August 2023 while she was crossing the road with her walking frame in Edinburgh. Manyatelo had been at a party the night before, had not slept and told friends he 'felt fine to drive'. He admitted causing her death by dangerous driving. Sentencing him at the High Court in Edinburgh, judge Lady Ross said: 'That arrogant self-assessment of your condition was woefully wrong.' She added: 'This was a lady in her later years who was much loved by her family. They were close to her and she is missed terribly.' Lady Ross pointed out the car was borrowed and had dangerous defects that meant it would have failed an MOT test. The court heard Manyatelo was driving at excessive speed in a 20mph zone on Stevenson Drive near Saughton Park after inhaling nitrous oxide. He had driven onto the opposing carriageway, mounted a pavement and grass verge, then went back onto the road when he struck Mrs Dixon, who had just exited a bus. Manyatelo fell asleep in a police car following the incident and refused to provide a blood sample for testing, claiming that it was against his religion. Prosecutor John Keenan KC said: 'He did not swerve, break or take any other action to avoid striking Mrs Dixon. The speed on impact was between 26 and 35mph. 'The impact caused her to be projected around 4.5 metres further up the westbound lane.' Manyatelo did not slow down or stop after the collision, but drove on before returning to the crash scene. Members of the public, including an off duty nurse, went to Mrs Dixon's aid. She was taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary but died from her injuries. Manyatelo gave negative tests for alcohol, cannabis and cocaine. But officers who were dealing with him noticed that he appeared drowsy and sometimes looked at them with a glazed expression. He agreed to be examined by a doctor who expressed the opinion that he was impaired and that his condition may be due to drug consumption. Officers found four deflated balloons in his car along with a nitrous oxide canister. Defence advocate Iain McSporran KC told judge Lady Ross that his client was sorry for his actions. He said Manyatelo was an 'extremely immature' man who had came to appreciate the seriousness off his actions. Lady Ross also banned Manyatelo from driving for eight years and 10 months. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
30-04-2025
- Telegraph
Mercedes driver high on laughing gas jailed for killing pensioner
A driver who inhaled laughing gas and killed a woman while speeding in a Mercedes has been jailed for five years. Washe Manyatelo, 24, struck Annette Dixon, 70, in August 2023 while she was crossing the road with her walking frame in Edinburgh. Manyatelo had been at a party the night before, had not slept and told friends he 'felt fine to drive'. He admitted causing her death by dangerous driving. Sentencing him at the High Court in Edinburgh, judge Lady Ross said: 'That arrogant self-assessment of your condition was woefully wrong.' She added: 'This was a lady in her later years who was much loved by her family. They were close to her and she is missed terribly.' Car would have failed MOT Lady Ross pointed out the car was borrowed and had dangerous defects that meant it would have failed an MOT test. The court heard Manyatelo was driving at excessive speed in a 20mph zone on Stevenson Drive near Saughton Park after inhaling nitrous oxide. He had driven onto the opposing carriageway, mounted a pavement and grass verge, then went back onto the road when he struck Mrs Dixon, who had just exited a bus. Manyatelo fell asleep in a police car following the incident and refused to provide a blood sample for testing, claiming that it was against his religion. Prosecutor John Keenan KC said: 'He did not swerve, break or take any other action to avoid striking Mrs Dixon. The speed on impact was between 26 and 35mph. 'The impact caused her to be projected around 4.5 metres further up the westbound lane.' Manyatelo did not slow down or stop after the collision, but drove on before returning to the crash scene. Members of the public, including an off duty nurse, went to Mrs Dixon's aid. She was taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary but died from her injuries. 'Extremely immature' Manyatelo gave negative tests for alcohol, cannabis and cocaine. But officers who were dealing with him noticed that he appeared drowsy and sometimes looked at them with a glazed expression. He agreed to be examined by a doctor who expressed the opinion that he was impaired and that his condition may be due to drug consumption. Officers found four deflated balloons in his car along with a nitrous oxide canister. Defence advocate Iain McSporran KC told judge Lady Ross that his client was sorry for his actions. He said Manyatelo was an 'extremely immature' man who had came to appreciate the seriousness off his actions.
Scotsman
30-04-2025
- Scotsman
Driver who inhaled laughing gas and killed Edinburgh woman while speeding in car is jailed
Watch more of our videos on and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565 Visit Shots! now A 24-year-old man who inhaled laughing gas and killed an elderly woman while speeding in his car has been jailed. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Washe Manyatelo appeared at the High Court in Edinburgh on Wednesday, April 30, where he was sentenced to three years and seven months in prison for causing the death of Edinburgh pensioner Annette Dixon in 2023. He was also sentenced for a road traffic offence and a drugs offence, having pleaded guilty at a previous hearing. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Washe Manyatelo, 24, was sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh, on Wednesday, April 30 | Police Scotland The fatal crash happened at around 3.30pm on Saturday, August, 26, 2023. Manyatelo was driving a black Mercedes C-Class in Stevenson Drive when he lost control of the vehicle and struck Annette Dixon while she was walking. The 70-year-old was seriously injured and taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh where she died a short time later. Annette Dixon was killed in August 2023 after being struck by a car in Stevenson Drive in Edinburgh It is reported that a search of Manyatelo's vehicle led to the recovery of deflated balloons and a nitrous oxide canister. Road Policing Sergeant Grant Hastie said: 'I hope this sentencing brings closure and some comfort for the family and friends of the woman who died.'This kind of driving is not tolerated. Manyatelo showed complete disregard for the law and his reckless actions highlight the devastating consequences of dangerous driving and the lasting impact it has on those involved.'
Daily Record
30-04-2025
- Daily Record
Speeding Mercedes driver inhaled laughing gas before ploughing into frail pensioner
A car driver who inhaled laughing gas before he killed a frail pensioner as she crossed a road with her walking stick has been jailed for five years. Washe Manyatelo, 24, was driving a Mercedes C220 at excessive speed when he struck Annette Dixon, 70, after she got off a bus in Edinburgh. Manyatelo - who fell asleep in a police car following the incident - later refused to provide a blood sample for testing following the tragedy claiming that it was against his religion, the High Court in Edinburgh heard. The convicted drug trafficker admitted causing the death of his victim by driving dangerously on August 26 in 2023, when he appeared at court earlier this year. Sentence had been deferred for the court to obtain reports. On Wednesday, Manyatelo appeared once again at the High Court in Edinburgh for sentencing. Defence advocate Iain McSporran KC told judge Lady Ross that his client was sorry for his actions. However, Lady Ross told Manyatelo that he'd have to go to jail for his crimes. Passing sentence, she said: 'The night before, you had been at a party. You had not slept at all that night, or into the following day. 'You said that you would take some friends to their homes, and thought that you felt fine to drive, but that arrogant self-assessment of your condition was woefully wrong. 'You got into a car, a black Mercedes C220. It wasn't your car. It was borrowed, but you had had it for a few months. 'There were a number of defects in the tyres, including dangerous defects, which would have meant a failure in an MOT test. 'This was a lady in her later years who was much loved by her family. I have read the victim impact statements, provided by her children, and they make it very clear that they were close to her and that she is missed terribly. 'The impact on them, and on other family members has been profound, and it continues. 'The sentence that I impose will not come close to matching their sorrow and their pain, and it cannot measure the value of Mrs Dixon's life. No sentence could do that.' At earlier proceedings, the court heard how Manyatelo drove the car at Stevenson Drive having inhaled nitrous oxide at excessive speed and failed to maintain proper observations. He went into the opposing carriageway, mounted a pavement and grass verge and back onto the road where he struck the pensioner. Other drivers took evasive action and he narrowly avoided hitting a stationary vehicle and carried out overtaking and undertaking manoeuvres when it was not safe to do so. Manyatelo, who is currently serving a jail sentence for being concerned in the supply of cannabis, was found to have cocaine worth up to £1,400 on the streets, secreted on him internally after the crash. Prosecutor John Keenan KC said: "At 15.29 hours on Saturday August 2023, the deceased Annette Dixon got off a bus at the stop. Mrs Dixon walked with a four wheeled walking frame, in which was placed a bag for shopping." "Using her frame she slowly moved onto the roadway as westbound traffic cleared from her right hand side. The accused was driving eastbound on Stevenson Drive," he said. Several witnesses thought the Mercedes driven by Manyatelo was travelling in excess of 30 mph in an area governed by a 20 mph limit. Mr Keenan said: "As it approached the junction with Balgreen Road, the Mercedes moved across the centre line of the road onto the westbound lane. The offside wheels of the car then mounted the grass verge on the south side of the road, travelled approximately 30 metres along the verge and road towards the bus stop, before moving back onto the westbound lane." "It was at this point that the Mercedes struck Mrs Dixon and her walking frame. She had just moved onto the roadway, She would have been clearly visible to the accused," said the prosecutor. "He did not swerve, break or take any other action to avoid striking Mrs Dixon. The speed on impact was between 26 and 35 mph. The impact caused her to be projected around 4.5 metres further up the westbound lane, said Mr Keenan. Manyatelo did not slow down or stop after the collision but drove on before returning to the crash scene. Members of the public, including an off duty nurse, went to the aid of the stricken pedestrian. She was taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary but died from her injuries. Manyatelo was cautioned by police and told them: "I think I was driving at 30. I think I hit her side on." Officers found four deflated balloons in his car along with a nitrous oxide canister. It was discovered that the Mercedes he was driving would have failed an MOT because of the state of the tyres on the vehicle which would have affected steering and handling. Manyatelo gave negative tests for alcohol, cannabis and cocaine. But officers who were dealing with him noticed that he appeared drowsy and sometimes looked at them with a glazed expression. Mr Keenan said: "He was arrested and taken to Livingston police station. He slept for the duration of the journey and appeared confused when waking up." During a search of Manyatelo, formerly of Broomhouse Medway, Edinburgh, officers found a further balloon, similar to those seen in his car, and discovered he had 18 grams of cocaine hidden internally in a plastic bag. He agreed to be examined by a doctor who expressed the opinion that he was impaired and that his condition may be due to drug consumption. He was then told of a requirement for a blood sample and claimed he might faint and he did not like needles. Mr Keenan added: "He then declined to provide a sample on the basis that it was against his religion, but without explaining why that was so." On Wednesday, Mr McSporran said his client was an 'extremely immature' man who had came to appreciate the seriousness off his actions. He added: 'He understands as time has gone on the devastating impact of his family on the family of the deceased. He has expressed remorse.' Lady Ross also banned Manyatelo from driving for eight years and 10 months.
