The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Accused initially denied overtaking
Mr McSporran outlined how Pirie’s actions during his dash from Scone to Coupar Angus caused the tragedy.
He told the court Pirie appeared “worked up” as he spoke on his mobile phone.
He added: “Text messages were also exchanged between the couple – the vast majority sent by him.
“The accused was using his mobile phone for that purpose, from which it appears that he was of the view that she was clearly ignoring him and then that he suspected her of being unfaithful to him. “He was clearly unhappy with her. “He continued to send and read images and text messages after driving away from his place of work – he had not been scheduled to leave work so early.
“It is clear from the number of calls and messages and the content of those images which can be read that he was upset and angry with his partner.
“The tone of his text messages then changed to pleading with her to phone him.
“She sent two messages at 15.12 in strong terms telling him to ‘get a grip’ of himself.
The crash then happened and he read the messages, responding within four seconds, ‘I’ve crashed one Heather’ followed five seconds later with ‘Heather I’ve been in a crash’.
“Against the background of his being in a hurry and in an angry mood while using a mobile phone to call text, and engage in a Facetime call, we now come to the fatal collision which occurred some 14 kilometres after Scone Airport.”
He added: “Collision investigators calculate the minimum speed of the accused’s car at the point of impact as being 50mph.
“He had denied to witnesses at the scene that he had been overtaking and said that it was not his fault but that ‘they had stepped out in front of me.’
“All eye witnesses and the extensive police collision investigation attribute sole responsibility for this collision to the accused.”