Road death charges dropped

A driver who was accused of killing a Cumbernauld student and her friend no longer faces prosecution.

William Payne was charged with causing the deaths of 20-year-old Laura Stewart of Cumbernauld, and Mhairi Convy (18) of Lennoxtown, by driving uninsured in Glasgow on December 17, 2010.

Both teenagers, who were accocunts students at the former Central College of Commerce, died after the 53-year-old’s Range Rover mounted the kerb and struck them in North Hanover Street.

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The pub DJ appeared on petition at Glasgow Sheriff Court in November last year charged with causing death by driving while uninsured.

No further court date was set but it was revealed on Tuesday that the charge had now been dropped.

The Crown said that the decision to drop the case followed a recent UK Supreme Court ruling which placed doubt over the ‘causing death while uninsured’ offence.

It is understood that a fatal accident inquiry into the tragedy is set to take place early next year.

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A Crown Office spokesperson said: “The Crown reserves the right to re-raise criminal proceedings should there be a material change in circumstances.

“Crown Counsel have also instructed that a fatal accident inquiry should be held into the deaths, which we anticipate will commence in the New Year.

“We will continue to keep the families advised of the status of the case and any future developments.”

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