Court / Whalsay man pleads guilty to causing death of fellow islander by careless driving
A FIFTY SIX year old man from Whalsay pleaded guilty to causing the death of an 80-year-old pedestrian by careless driving when he appeared at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Wednesday.
Alexander Paton, of Vatshoull, Brough, had his sentence deferred for four weeks to allow a social worker time to produce a criminal justice report.
Allister Sandison died of head injuries two days after he was struck by Paton’s blue Toyota Yaris car at around 9.20pm on the evening of 19 September 2019.
The court heard that the pensioner was walking home the short distance between his grandson’s and his own home, after earlier coming off the inter-island ferry.
He was initially cared for by local people before being transferred to the Gilbert Bain Hospital in Lerwick, where he died two days later.
Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said the road at Bellview, near Symbister, was closed for some time to allow specialists to carry out a detailed investigation.
Sheriff Ian Cruickshank said the case was “very difficult” for sentencing and asked for a background report.
Paton is due to return to court on 14 April. Bail was continued.
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