Police officer is cleared over hit-and-run death

Published on Wednesday 27 April 2011 17:26

A POLICE officer has been cleared over a Hogmanay hit-and-run accident which killed a father-of-three.

Martin Douglas, 41, from Hay Gardens in Niddrie, died after being hit by a black Toyota near the Playhouse Theatre as he walked home with wife Lisa in the early hours of New Year's Day.

It later emerged that the driver of the car, who initially continued on his journey before later returning to the scene, was a police constable who had just finished a shift nearby.

The 25-year-old officer was later charged in connection with the crash and a report sent to the procurator fiscal's office. It emerged today that those charges have now been dropped.

A Crown Office spokesman said: "The procurator fiscal at Edinburgh received a report concerning a 25-year-old male in connection with an incident on January 1, 2011.

"After full and careful consideration of the evidence in the case, Crown counsel decided that there should be no criminal proceedings."

It is understood the officer joined Lothian and Borders Police just over a year ago, and following the incident he was taken off duty and was reported to be suffering from stress.

A spokesman for Lothian and Borders Police confirmed that the officer, whose identity has never been revealed, had been cleared and continued to serve with the force.

Mr Douglas had been celebrating Hogmanay with his wife and other relatives and was struck as he left CC Blooms nightclub at around 4.20am.

The father-of-three had been crossing Union Place, near the top of Leith Walk, when he was hit. Fellow revellers waved down a passing ambulance and he was taken to the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, but he died of head and pelvic injuries.

Mr Douglas had been training for a job as an HGV driver after leaving a job at a care home. He is survived by daughter Martina, 16, and sons Thomas, 14, and Ben, six as well as his wife

Following the accident Mr Douglas's grieving father Lewis, 66, demanded answers to why an off-duty police officer would have driven off after the accident.

He was reported to have said at the time: "Martin was thrown on to the car's bonnet and then its roof. He suffered terrible internal injuries. This policeman must have known he had hit someone. We need to know why he drove away."

After it emerged no case would be heard against the officer Mr Douglas' uncle Kenneth Douglas said he felt it sent out the wrong message, as the officer appeared to be "above the law" and said he was still waiting to find out if the officer had been breathalysed at the scene.