Motorist who killed US mother faces jail

A MOTORIST convicted of causing the death of an American woman who wanted to start a new life in Scotland is facing prison.

Jordan Kenvyn, 26, was driving on the wrong side of the road when his car struck Barbara D’Amato’s vehicle on the A702 near Elvanfoot, South Lanarkshire, in January 2014.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard how Kenvyn, of Dumfries, had not been paying attention in the moments leading up to the collision. His Renault Clio smashed into the mother-oftwo’s black Fiat hire car causing her to sustain fatal injuries on January 16 2014.

Mrs D’Amato, who lived in France, had came to Scotland for a short break with her friend Colette Ralph and her pet Labrador. The court heard how it was Mrs D’Amato’s ambition to one day buy a house in the Scottish countryside. Yesterday, jurors returned a guilty verdict.

Judge Lady Scott told Kenvyn that she could not rule out imposing a custodial disposal. During proceedings, the court heard from Mrs D’Amato’s 48-year-old passenger Colette Ralph.

Mrs Ralph, a British expat who lives in Switzerland, said she worked with Mrs D’Amato at the International Airport Association in Geneva.

Mrs Ralph told the court that Mrs D’Amato had a fondness for Scotland.

She said: “She had been planning to retire in Scotland. It was always her plan. Her intention was to come and live here.” The court heard that on January 16, Kenvyn’s car, which was being driven on the wrong side of the road, struck their vehicle.

Kenvyn will be sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh on August 19.