Fine for death driver

A driver who pulled out into the path of a motorcyclist while trying to cross a dual carriageway has been cleared of causing death by dangerous driving.

Sohail Baig, 33, from Reading, Berkshire, hit Leigh Walker on the A90 near Aberdeen in September 2006.

Mr Walker, 49, from Montrose, died of his injuries 10 weeks later.

A jury at the High Court in Dunfermline found Baig guilty of careless driving. He was fined £350 and banned from the roads for a year.

The computer engineer had been lost after delivering a curry as a favour to a friend who owned a takeaway.

While using his Mercedes C220 coupe's satellite navigation system, he pulled out across two lanes of the A90 dual carriageway and in front of Mr Walker's Kawasaki bike.

The biker, who had no time to react, was catapulted into the air and suffered multiple injuries.

Four weeks after the accident, and six weeks before his death, Mr Walker managed to marry his fiancee, Felicity Mayman, in hospital.

Baig had denied he was distracted by his sat nav, stating he thought it was clear to make a move.

Judge Lord Brailsford, told Baig: "We've heard all the circumstances of what was plainly a tragic accident. The jury have found that through your carelessness came these consequences."

Speaking from her Somerset home, Felicity Mayman, 44, said she felt "cheated" by the outcome of the case.

'Huge tragedy'

She added: "This man took Leigh's life and he's got off scot free.

"I was led to expect he'd get the jail for what he did, and that's what should have happened.

"There is no way what he did was just carelessness - Leigh was driving safely within the speed limit with his headlight on.

"For this accident to have happened in these circumstances, Baig's driving must have been dangerous."

Leaving court, Baig said: "I passed my test six years before this happened - in 2000, the same year I came to this country from Pakistan - and I drive 50,000 to 60,000 miles a year with my work.

"I've been over and over what happened. If there was anything I could do to bring him back, I would. It was his birthday the next day and he was going to see his finacee. He didn't deserve this to happen to him.

"It's been a huge tragedy. It'll stay with me forever."

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