Judges reject tougher sentence for drink drive businessman

A bid to increase a jail sentence imposed on a killer drink-driver was rejected by appeal judges.

Dundee businessman Russell McKeever was nearly three times the legal limit following the fatal crash that claimed the life of Colin Taylor and badly hurt his wife Julie.

McKeever, 43, was jailed for four years after admitting causing the death of Mr Taylor, 59, and serious injury to his spouse by driving dangerously on the A933 Arbroath to Brechin road on October 31 2014.

The Crown lodged an appeal against the sentence imposed on McKeever, of Accordion Way, Dundee, by judge Lord Armstrong.

But three judges at the Court of Criminal Appeal in Edinburgh rejected the challenge brought by prosecutors.

Lady Smith, who heard the appeal with Lady Dorrian and Lord Bracadale, said: “We are not satisfied that this was an unduly lenient sentence. The appeal will be refused.”

The senior judge said that they would give full reasons for their decision at a later date.

Following the hearing, Mrs Taylor said: “I am disappointed, again.”