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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Man admits M74 road rage killing | Man admits M74 road rage killing |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| A member of a notorious Glasgow crime family has admitted killing a man during a road rage incident. | A member of a notorious Glasgow crime family has admitted killing a man during a road rage incident. |
| Paul Lyons, 28, rammed 32-year-old Mark Fleeman's van on the M74 motorway near Larkhall in June last year. | Paul Lyons, 28, rammed 32-year-old Mark Fleeman's van on the M74 motorway near Larkhall in June last year. |
| The High Court in Glasgow heard that Lyons was high on drink and drugs and banned from driving at the time. | The High Court in Glasgow heard that Lyons was high on drink and drugs and banned from driving at the time. |
| Mr Fleeman died after his van spun off the road and overturned. His 17-year-old passenger Lee Allsup was seriously injured. Both men were from Uttoxeter. | Mr Fleeman died after his van spun off the road and overturned. His 17-year-old passenger Lee Allsup was seriously injured. Both men were from Uttoxeter. |
| The court heard that just seconds before the fatal incident Mr Fleeman made a desperate 999 call during which the operator could "hear sounds of a crash". | The court heard that just seconds before the fatal incident Mr Fleeman made a desperate 999 call during which the operator could "hear sounds of a crash". |
| Lyons, from Bonnybridge, Stirlingshire, fled to Spain after the killing but was extradited back to Scotland after being arrested by Spanish police | |
| The 28-year-old, whose father runs a Glasgow garage which was at the centre of a triple shooting in 2006, was originally charged with murder or an alternative charge of causing death by reckless driving.. | |
| Paul Lyons used his van as a weapon, it may not have been a knife or a gun but nevertheless it had the same lethal consequences Jennifer Harrower District procurator fiscal | Paul Lyons used his van as a weapon, it may not have been a knife or a gun but nevertheless it had the same lethal consequences Jennifer Harrower District procurator fiscal |
| However, he pleaded guilty to culpable homicide and attempting to defeat the ends of justice. | However, he pleaded guilty to culpable homicide and attempting to defeat the ends of justice. |
| He also admitted injuring Mr Allsup to his permanent impairment and a charge of dangerous driving. | He also admitted injuring Mr Allsup to his permanent impairment and a charge of dangerous driving. |
| The court heard that Mr Fleeman's family had been left "utterly devastated" by the death and that his wife had contemplated suicide. | |
| In a statement read out in court Sandra Fleeman described the day she had to identify her husband's body via a TV monitor as "horrific" and added: "He did not deserve this and neither did we." | |
| Speaking after the hearing, Jennifer Harrower, district procurator fiscal for Hamilton, said: "Paul Lyons used his van as a weapon, it may not have been a knife or a gun but nevertheless it had the same lethal consequences culminating in the death of an innocent man. | Speaking after the hearing, Jennifer Harrower, district procurator fiscal for Hamilton, said: "Paul Lyons used his van as a weapon, it may not have been a knife or a gun but nevertheless it had the same lethal consequences culminating in the death of an innocent man. |
| "Lyons then fled abroad, desperately attempting to avoid the consequences of his actions. | "Lyons then fled abroad, desperately attempting to avoid the consequences of his actions. |
| "Working with our criminal justice partners and utilising all of the powers within the legislation available we were determined to ensure he did not do so." | "Working with our criminal justice partners and utilising all of the powers within the legislation available we were determined to ensure he did not do so." |
| The court heard that shopfitter Mr Fleeman was driving from Derbyshire, to work in Dunfermline, along the M74 in the early hours of 4 June last year when Lyons repeatedly tried to crash his own van into him at a speed of more than 70mph. | The court heard that shopfitter Mr Fleeman was driving from Derbyshire, to work in Dunfermline, along the M74 in the early hours of 4 June last year when Lyons repeatedly tried to crash his own van into him at a speed of more than 70mph. |
| Mark Fleeman had been on his way to work when the incident happened | Mark Fleeman had been on his way to work when the incident happened |
| The vehicles eventually collided, with Mr Fleeman's overturning several times before landing at the side of the carriageway. | The vehicles eventually collided, with Mr Fleeman's overturning several times before landing at the side of the carriageway. |
| Advocate depute Iain McSporran said Mr Fleeman had initially gestured at Lyons because of his erratic driving. | Advocate depute Iain McSporran said Mr Fleeman had initially gestured at Lyons because of his erratic driving. |
| He said: "It appears that the accused's response to this gesture is what led to Mr Fleeman's death." | He said: "It appears that the accused's response to this gesture is what led to Mr Fleeman's death." |
| The court was told that Lyons, who was driving home from a night out in Manchester with two friends, had been drinking beer and wine and took valium pills during the trip north. | The court was told that Lyons, who was driving home from a night out in Manchester with two friends, had been drinking beer and wine and took valium pills during the trip north. |
| After the crash he sped off towards Gartcosh railway station where he and his friends were picked up by an associate. | After the crash he sped off towards Gartcosh railway station where he and his friends were picked up by an associate. |
| Later that morning, Lyons asked a panel beater friend to attend his garage premises. Lyons' van was never seen again. | Later that morning, Lyons asked a panel beater friend to attend his garage premises. Lyons' van was never seen again. |
| The court heard that one of his passengers, James Tulloch, was arrested days later on an unrelated matter. | The court heard that one of his passengers, James Tulloch, was arrested days later on an unrelated matter. |
| He told police he had been in Lyons' van, there had been "a road rage incident" and that "we rammed them". | He told police he had been in Lyons' van, there had been "a road rage incident" and that "we rammed them". |
| Mr McSporran told the court: "He fully implicated Lyons as the driver. He described his high speed, aggressive and erratic driving under the influence of drink and drugs." | Mr McSporran told the court: "He fully implicated Lyons as the driver. He described his high speed, aggressive and erratic driving under the influence of drink and drugs." |
| Challenging investigation | Challenging investigation |
| The advocate depute also told the court that Mr Allsup, who was seriously injured in the crash, used to be a "happy go lucky" person but had since contemplated suicide after spending seven weeks in various hospitals. | |
| In a victim impact statement read to the court, Mr Allsup said: "My best friend died. I can not begin to describe how that feels. I'm numb. | |
| "I can't leave the house. I have panic attacks." | |
| Lawyers for Lyons said he accepted his conduct had been utterly irresponsible and stupid and he expressed remorse to his victims' families. | Lawyers for Lyons said he accepted his conduct had been utterly irresponsible and stupid and he expressed remorse to his victims' families. |
| Det Ch Inp Neil Thomson, who led the Strathclyde Police investigation, said: "The investigation into the circumstances was somewhat challenging and involved liaison with other police forces throughout the country and beyond. | Det Ch Inp Neil Thomson, who led the Strathclyde Police investigation, said: "The investigation into the circumstances was somewhat challenging and involved liaison with other police forces throughout the country and beyond. |
| "I would like to thank members of the public who supported officers throughout the inquiry. | "I would like to thank members of the public who supported officers throughout the inquiry. |
| "People were naturally outraged by the circumstances leading up to the death of Mark Fleeman. This was evident in the level of co-operation received." | "People were naturally outraged by the circumstances leading up to the death of Mark Fleeman. This was evident in the level of co-operation received." |
| He added: "I sincerely hope that Mark's family can now put their ordeal behind them and move on with their lives." | He added: "I sincerely hope that Mark's family can now put their ordeal behind them and move on with their lives." |
| Lyons will return to court next month for sentencing. | Lyons will return to court next month for sentencing. |