A man accused of causing the death of a pensioner by driving dangerously at a north-east caravan site tried to blame his girlfriend for the crash, a court has heard.
Nathaniel Cooper is on trial at the High Court in Aberdeen accused of killing Andrew MacKay, 65, after his Daihatsu Terios struck the retired plumber, pinning him down underneath a caravan and the car.
The 65-year-old suffered significant chest injuries and died at East Balthangie Caravan Park, near Cuminestown in Aberdeenshire.
The jury has heard Cooper’s girlfriend at the time, Kylie Johnston, was sitting on his knee in the driver’s seat at the time the fatal crash happened.
But Cooper, of Queens Road, Inverbervie, denies causing Mr MacKay’s death by driving dangerously and claims he had no control of the steering wheel or pedals in the moments leading up to the collision.
Johnston, of Newbigging Drive, Stonehaven, has already admitted her part in the incident, and has taken responsibility for controlling the steering wheel as it crossed a grassy area and crashed through a fence.
On Wednesday, 26-year-old Johnston told the jury that as the car started to go out of control she let go of the wheel and Cooper took over, but seconds later they crashed into the caravan and Mr MacKay.
But yesterday the court heard that when officers arrived at the scene, Cooper approached Constable Mark Ball and tried to blame his partner.
The court was also played Johnston’s police interview yesterday when the pair were originally being questioned in relation to charges of culpable homicide.
The tape showed her extremely upset and distressed following the incident.
The trial, before Lord Stewart, continues.