Pirie sent text saying ‘I’ve been in a crash’

On the day of the tragedy, Luke Pirie hurried home from his work at Scone Airport to confront his partner.

He had spent the morning calling and texting Heather Eaton, who he suspected of being unfaithful to him.

The court had heard the 23-yearold appeared to be “worked up” as he sped through rural Perthshire, overtaking cars at Balbeggie at well over the 30mph limit.

While behind the wheel of the Ford Focus, he used his phone to Facetime Heather, before reaching a junction with the Coupar Angus road.

Prosecution lawyer Iain McSporran QC said the couple had exchanged messages. “The vast majority were sent by him,” he said. “Mr Pirie 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.” As he came up to the junction, three other cars had stopped on the road.

A Citroen at the front of the queue was indicating to go right, witnesses said. Pirie pulled out to overtake the vehicles – believing they were parked – and struck the Citroen as it started to turn.

Pirie’s car then spun across the carriageway, striking a wall where Harlow, Dionne and the six-year-old boy were walking.

Pirie sent his girlfriend a text: “I’ve crashed one Heather.” Then another: “Heather I’ve been in a crash.”