This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/north_east/8205031.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Man faces crash death flee trial Man denies drink-drive road death
(about 3 hours later)
A motorist has gone on trial accused of causing the death of a pedestrian by driving while unfit through drink and drugs, and then fleeing the scene. A man was knocked down and killed by a drink-driver in Fraserburgh after a row broke out on the way to a party, the High Court in Aberdeen has been told.
Steven Duthie, 31, of Fraserburgh, denies causing the death of Richard Jones after a collision. Richard Jones, 22, died after being hit by a car on the B9033 Fraserburgh to Cairnbulg road in May last year.
Mr Jones, 22, also of Fraserburgh, died after being injured on the B9033 Fraserburgh to Cairnbulg road in May last year. Steven Duthie, 31, denies causing the death by driving dangerously while under the influence of drink and drugs.
Mr Duthie has gone on trial at the High Court in Aberdeen. It is also alleged he fled the scene, washed his car to destroy the evidence and asked a friend not to call 999.
The court was also told Mr Duthie, of Finlayson Street, Fraserburgh, was driving without a licence and insurance.
Man in road
The jury heard Mr Duthie, Mr Jones and another man, William Stephen (known as Bill), were in the car after meeting in the Balaclava Bar in Fraserburgh.
It is claimed they were on their way to a party in Inverallochy when an argument broke out between Mr Stephen and Mr Jones.
Giving evidence, Richard Duthie, who was a friend of the accused, said he had noticed Mr Stephen's car at the side of the road at about 0300 BST on 23 May and stopped to see what had happened.
He said he saw the injured man lying flat out on the road and was told he was still breathing.
He said Mr Stephen told him Mr Duthie had been driving when they struck the man and they had called an ambulance.
'Fracas' claim
Richard Duthie, 34, told the court he carried on driving, because he was worried the police would breathalyse him.
He went on to tell the court Mr Duthie and Mr Stephen later arrived at the party looking agitated.
He said: "They didn't know what to do with themselves.
"They said Steven was driving. There had been a fracas with the third person in the car and he was walking by the side of the road.
"There had been some incident with himself and Stephen. The boy got out in front of the car and Steven tried to swerve."
Advocate depute Derick Nelson asked: "Did you understand the third person to be the man who was injured?"
He replied: "Yes. Bill had stopped at the graveyard, got out of the car and there was some sort of kerfuffle. Steven got in the car and Steven hit the boy."
He said the two men carried on drinking at the party and claimed Mr Stephen said to Mr Duthie: "I'm nae taking the blame for what you did."
He described Mr Stephen as being "quite drunk" when he was at the pub earlier that evening and agreed Mr Duthie had not been in a good condition to drive.
The trial continues.