Cocaine snorting Private Hire Driver jailed for the death of 89 year old pensioner

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A minicab driver from Liverpool who was still high on cocaine when he knocked over and killed 89-year-old pensioner Andrew Oakden has been jailed for four-years and four-months. Paul Morrison, 43, had claimed that the victim had stepped out in front of his vehicle leaving him no time to avoid the collision, but CCTV footage revealed that Oakden was within steps of completing his crossing. Evidence that was revealed in court suggested that Morrison was also speeding, driving at a speed of approximately 37mph in a 30mph zone. Oakden was unable to recover from his injuries and died the following day. Tests taken after the collision found that Morrison was three times over the legal limit for the main metabolite of cocaine, Benzoylecgonine. Morrison had originally denied the charge of causing death by careless driving, but changed his plea to guilty once he was told that his failed drugs test would be brought up in court.

(Image;Handout-Paul Morrison)

As reported in the Liverpool Echo, Oakden's sister, Mrs Dickinson, who said her older brother was more like a father to her, had to make the heartbreaking decision to switch off his life support machine. Judge Conrad, sentencing said;

“Had you been driving carefully you would have seen him from some way away. It is clear that your concentration lapsed for more than a short amount of time. You did not see Mr Oakden or apply your brakes until it was far too late. You were, on the evidence and on your own admission, exceeding the speed limit at the time.

“You were found to have drugs in your system. The level of BZE, the metabolite of cocaine, was three times the prescribed limit. The taking of controlled drugs - whether by way of their direct effects or by way of their side effects later on, compromises the ability of a driver to drive safely - in particularly adversely affecting one’s awareness and one’s alertness.“Anne Dickinson, the sister of Mr Oakden, sums it up in words upon which I cannot improve: ‘I just feel that anyone who gets behind a wheel of a car having taken drink or drugs should realise that they are more likely to cause serious accidents with serious consequences. Their ability is impaired by the drink or drugs.’"Of all people you - a taxi driver entrusted with the safety of the public - should know that.”

July 20, 2018 at 10:57PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT