The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Woman guilty of causing fatal crash
Court: Driver on wrong side of road before collision that killed art teacher
A mum-of-two has been found guilty of causing a crash that killed a northeast art teacher.
Pauline Flynn, pictured, was on the wrong side of the road when her car crashed into Harry McPherson’s vehicle head-on.
A mum-of-two has been found guilty of causing a crash that killed a northeast art teacher.
Pauline Flynn was on the wrong side of the road when her car crashed into Harry McPherson’s vehicle head-on.
The 61-year-old’s Vauxhall Corsa was hit so hard it spun 180 degrees before coming to a rest in a ditch on top of a fence near Clola, on the A952 Mintlaw-Toll of Birness road.
Mr McPherson died at the scene while his partner Patricia suffered serious injuries.
Flynn – who told police after the crash that Mr McPherson’s car had been in the middle of the road – broke down in tears as the jury returned its verdict after a week-long trial at Peterhead Sheriff Court.
And afterwards, Mr McPherson’s grieving family said they had “complete faith” the police investigation would prove Flynn had been driving carelessly.
Daughter Elaine accused the 36-year-old of showing no remorse, and said it was “disgusting” she had tried
“No punishment harsh enough that will be enough justice”
to blame Mr McPherson. “There is no punishment harsh enough that will be enough justice for us,” she said. “That woman has inflicted life-changing injuries to my mother and turned our lives upside down. Perhaps now we can begin to grieve after cruelly being left in limbo for the past two years.”
It took the jury – which was reduced from 15 to 14 due to illness – just over two hours to return a guilty verdict by majority.
Before they began their deliberations, fiscal depute David Bernard urged them to convict Flynn and told them she had been driving “unhappy” because her then boyfriend had cancelled their plans due to the poor weather and work commitments.
But defence agent Susan Duff told them they could not rely on Sergeant Kelly Manson’s findings from the collision investigation.
She claimed the officer had jumped to her conclusion before knowing the facts and “ignored” evidence. And she told the jury Mrs McPherson’s evidence could also not be relied on. Mrs McPherson originally had no recollection of the crash but was able to piece together flashbacks following medical treatment.
Mr McPherson died on October 3, 2014 as he was returning home to Rora after spending the evening with his partner and her friend, Charmaine Jackson. He died at the scene, while Mrs McPherson, 52, suffered a traumatic brain injury, fractured left clavicle, pelvis and elbow. She still suffers post-traumatic stress disorder.
Flynn, of Sutherland Close, Mintlaw, suffered serious leg injuries, and had to be cut out of her car.
Giving evidence, Mrs McPherson claimed she did not want “vengeance” against Flynn, but called for justice.
Sheriff Andrew Miller deferred sentence for the preparation of background reports, and released Flynn on bail so she can look after her children. She will return to court next month.