Related Articles
The heartbroken family of a Motherwell woman killed by a speeding police officer have slammed “unjust delays” after he admitted to killing the 58-year-old.
PC Jamie Hamill, 32, had been driving a marked Ford Transit patrol van when he collided with Margaret McCarron in September 2021, leaving her fatally injured. McCarron was rushed to University Hospital Wishaw for treatment but passed away a short time after arriving.
Hamill, of Strathaven, Lanarkshire, appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court on Monday (November 18) and admitted causing death by careless driving.
READ MORE: Teen who died watching Tipping Point suffered ‘catastrophic’ lack of parental control
READ MORE: Signs of winter vomiting bug sweeping UK that’s ‘horrible’ and highly contagious
The victim’s family say Hamill could have “admitted his guilt far earlier” as they blast the length of time it took for him to own up to his actions.
In a statement issued through law firm Digby Brown, the McCarron family said: “We welcome the conviction however we remain frustrated it has taken this long to secure.
“That police officer could have admitted his guilt far earlier and saved our family from the added trauma of these unnecessary and unjust delays.
“We therefore hope the pending sentence will reflect the seriousness of his failures, the significance of our loss and the importance of police officers following the laws they are meant to enforce.”
Earlier this week, the court heard from prosecutors who said Hamill was driving at 39mph in a 30mph zone when he hit McCarron as she tried to cross Merry St near her home to visit a nearby garage. Hamill and a colleague had been heading for Bellshill to make inquiries about a car that had been flagged as not having valid insurance when tragedy struck.
Prosecutors said Hamill had been on patrol when the car had been spotted. He had turned the police van around and made off in the direction of the vehicle with his blue lights on.
The patrol hits speeds of 52mph but lost sight of the car but after checking the registration decided to visit an address in Bellshill to question the owner. But as they made their way through Motherwell having switched off their emergency lights they collided with McCarron around 8.15pm.
Depute fiscal Niall MacLeod said: “The accused got out of the van to help Margaret McCarron, he gave her CPR. The accused radioed for help and was heard to say ‘someone walked in front of the van’. A midwife who was passing also helped before paramedics arrived.”
McCarron was rushed to hospital but could not be saved despite the efforts of doctors. A post mortem recorded her cause of death as severe chest and neck injuries. The court was told tests had shown she had been drinking before the accident but her husband denied she had been drunk.
The prosecutor said Hamill, who had 18 months service with the force, had been ‘visibly upset’ after the incident and had shown negative test results for alcohol and drugs.
Join Glasgow Live’s WhatsApp community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages.
He said experts had agreed the lights from oncoming cars could have impacted his ability to see McCarron on the road.
Grieving members of McCarron’s family left the court as CCTV footage from the incident was played.
Murdo MacLeod KC, defending, said Hamill had shown ‘genuine remorse’ over the incident. He said: “After the collision Mr Hamill did everything he could to try and help save her life.”
Sheriff Louise Gallacher deferred sentence on Hamill for reports until December 18 and continued bail. He was disqualified from driving meantime.
Police Scotland were approached for comment.
Sign up to our daily Glasgow Live newsletter here to receive news and features direct to your inbox
Source link
