The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Student killed boyfriend with car after cash row
ADundee student ran over and killed her boyfriend in her car in Fife after a row over money.
Grace Ross, 21, hit Joshua Kerr close to the farm where he worked near Leslie, Glenrothes.
The 18-year-old did not survive the resulting catastrophic head injury.
Ross – who had been due to study politics at Dundee University at the time – pled guilty to causing Mr Kerr’s death by careless driving.
Although she hit him at less than 3mph, she then ran over his head with the car. A judge warned her she faces a possible prison term when she is sentenced next month.
Prosecutor Gavin Anderson told the High Court in Glasgow how the couple had been together for three years.
Before the incident, they had an argument over Joshua’s finances, including what was described as a “cash app” on his phone.
Mr Anderson told the hearing it was Ross’s “suspicion” the farmhand was hiding things from her.
The advocate depute said: “She said she was coming to the farm unless he handed over the code to the cash app.”
Ross then turned up at around 11am that morning, May 22 2020.
She got hold of Mr Kerr’s phone and got back into her Vauxhall Corsa.
Ross initially accelerated
harshly – her boyfriend was not in front of the vehicle at the time.
She then went on to do a three-point turn on the narrow road.
Ross was said to be travelling at just 2.3mph before she hit Raith Rovers fan Mr Kerr.
Mr Anderson said: “He was struck by the front offside, which caused him to fall and then be under the car.
“Once he was lying on his back, both of the offside wheels went over him.
“One left a tyre tread imprint on his trousers as it passed over his leg.
“The rear offside wheel ran over his head and caused a significant skull fracture – the injury was incompatible with life,” he added.
A hysterical Ross immediately leaped from the car screaming and rushed to help the teenager, before dialling 999.
Mr Kerr never recovered from his injuries.
Ross, of Glenrothes, begged police who arrived to allow her to give her boyfriend “one last hug” but was stopped from doing so.
She told officers: “He jumped in front of me and I hit him.
“We had a fight and I came up to see him.
“When I tried to leave, he jumped in front of me and I hit him.”
It also emerged her concerns about the app were said to be “unfounded”.
Ross, formerly at Abertay University, had been due to start a new course as a student of politics and international relations at Dundee University in September 2020.
Ross initially appeared in the dock charged with talented pool player Mr Kerr’s murder.
When the case was first called at the high court last October, she was instead accused of causing death by dangerous driving before pleading guilty to the lesser charge yesterday.
Donald Findlay QC, defending, said: “On many occasions that I have met her, she has done nothing other than express the deepest levels of sadness and regret as to what happened to this young man.”
Lord Braid continued bail pending sentencing next month in Edinburgh.
Ross was banned from the road meantime.
The judge warned her: “Be under no illusions, the sentencing options including custody remain open.”