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Robbie Gemmell admits causing friends' deaths in crash | Robbie Gemmell admits causing friends' deaths in crash |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A teenager who was not legally old enough to drive has admitted causing the death of his three friends in a crash in East Lothian. | A teenager who was not legally old enough to drive has admitted causing the death of his three friends in a crash in East Lothian. |
Robbie Gemmell was at the wheel of the Peugeot 206 when it left the road and hit a wall in Tyninghame last November. | Robbie Gemmell was at the wheel of the Peugeot 206 when it left the road and hit a wall in Tyninghame last November. |
Jenna Barbour, 18, Josh Stewart, 16 and David Armstrong, 15, were all killed. | Jenna Barbour, 18, Josh Stewart, 16 and David Armstrong, 15, were all killed. |
Gemmell pled guilty to causing death while driving without due care and attention. Sentencing was deferred until next month. | |
Members of the victims' families were at Edinburgh Sheriff Court for the hearing. | Members of the victims' families were at Edinburgh Sheriff Court for the hearing. |
The crash happened on an unclassified road at 20:25 on 25 November. | The crash happened on an unclassified road at 20:25 on 25 November. |
Gemmell, who was 16 at the time, was the driver of the car and was treated in hospital after surviving the collision. | Gemmell, who was 16 at the time, was the driver of the car and was treated in hospital after surviving the collision. |
The court heard that he originally told police officers that he was a front seat passenger in the car. | |
Accident investigators estimated the Peugeot was travelling at a minimum of 50-54mph in the moments before the crash. | |
Prosecution lawyer Graeme Jessop said that Gemmell confessed to his father that he had in fact been driving the car, while he was in hospital recovering from his injuries. | |
Mr Jessop added: "The accused became upset and started to cry. His father, Mark Gemmell, asked him if he had something to say and he said 'Dad I was driving the car'." | |
Mr Jessop told the court that the car involved in the collision belonged to Jenna Barbour. At some point in the evening, Gemmell took over driving from Miss Barbour. | |
After hearing the circumstances of the case, Sheriff Liddle extended his sympathy to everybody who has been involved in the incident. | |
Deferring sentence in order for the court to obtain reports, the sheriff added: "I do not want to deal with this case but it is my duty." | |
Jenna Barbour had just left Dunbar Grammar School after completing sixth year. | Jenna Barbour had just left Dunbar Grammar School after completing sixth year. |
Josh Stewart, David Armstrong and Gemmell were all 5th year pupils at the school. | |
Insp Richard Latto, of Police Scotland, said: "This single-vehicle road collision resulted in the deaths of three young people. | Insp Richard Latto, of Police Scotland, said: "This single-vehicle road collision resulted in the deaths of three young people. |
"All were from the Dunbar community and our thoughts are with the families affected by this tragic incident. | "All were from the Dunbar community and our thoughts are with the families affected by this tragic incident. |
"An extensive police enquiry was carried out to determine the cause of this collision, and a detailed police report submitted to the procurator fiscal." | "An extensive police enquiry was carried out to determine the cause of this collision, and a detailed police report submitted to the procurator fiscal." |
He added: "This tragic incident reinforces the extensive risks of an inexperienced person not legally old enough to possess a driving licence, getting behind the wheel of a motor vehicle." | He added: "This tragic incident reinforces the extensive risks of an inexperienced person not legally old enough to possess a driving licence, getting behind the wheel of a motor vehicle." |