Detention for driver who killed best friend

Callum Brown was 18 when his dangerous driving caused the death of 16-year-old in Fife road crash

A man has been detained after causing the death of his best friend when his BMW careered into a tree.

Callum Brown appeared for sentencing at the High Court in Paisley yesterday following the collision on the Coaltown of Wemyss to Dysart road on June 5 last year.

He was just 18-years-old when his dangerous driving caused the death of passenger Brian Phimister, who was only 16.

Judge Craig Scott QC heard how police investigators thought Brown was driving at least 58 miles per hour in a 40 mph zone at the time of the crash.

Despite holding a previous conviction for speeding, he attempted a bend at speed and lost control, leaving his vehicle folded around the tree.

Appearing in the dock yesterday, Brown was detained for three years and four months.

The 20-year-old, from Links Street in Kirkcaldy, had previously admitted a charge of causing death by dangerous driving.

He was also banned from driving for fiveyearsandorderedtosittheextended test if he should choose to regain his licence.

Judge Scott said: “At the time of his death, Brian Phimister was 16. “He had his life ahead of him. “Following the impact with the tree, and judging by his injuries, Brian Phimister had no chance of surviving.”

He added: “It seems to me the only redeeming features concerning the circumstances are that no other road users were involved and no factor apart from excessive speed was involved.

“Young, inexperienced drivers such as yourself must come to realise that driving at excessive speed cannot be tolerated on our public roads.”

During an earlier hearing, Edinburgh High Court heard how a witness, Freda Walker, rushed to the scene and was horrified at what she saw.

She described seeing Mr Phimister, saying it looked as if he was inside the tree.

When doctors carried out a postmortem examination of Mr Phimister, they found the deceased had a “comparative large number of blunt force injuries to the head and face.”

They also found “multiple limb fractures” and his brain was also swollen.

Defence solicitor advocate Gordon Martin said his client and his deceased were “best friends” and that he expressed remorse for what happened.

Writing on Facebook after the crash, Mr Phimister’s heartbroken father John said: “Because of some idiot driver trying to show off, my son, my baby boy, is now dead on the mortuary slab.

“My boy has been stolen from me, my life torn apart, my baby boy killed before he could even take the wheel of a car and do what he loved.”

My boy has been stolen from me, my life torn apart, my baby boy killed before he could even take the wheel of a car and do what he loved. JOHN PHIMISTER

The wreckage of the car following the crash in which Brian Phimister was killed.

Brian Phimister was 16 when he died.