Glasgow driver who killed didn’t call 999 for fear of cost

By ASHLIE MCANALLY
Published on 29/09/2012 01:21

A DRIVER who knocked down and killed a pedestrian did not call an ambulance for fear of using up credit on his mobile phone, a court heard.

Rehman Afzal, 28, instead phoned his family while 40-year-old chef Dan Roberts lay dying, and was heard saying: “It’s not good. It is not good.”

At Glasgow Sheriff Court yesterday, Afzal was convicted of causing the death of Mr Roberts, an accomplished bass player, by inconsiderate driving on Paisley Road West, Glasgow, on 15 January, 2011.

The jury deleted part of the charge that related to careless driving.

He was sentenced to 300 hours community service.

Sheriff John Beckett, QC, told Afzal he was driving below the standard expected of a capable driver.

He said: “As a result of the way you drove your vehicle, in the conditions prevailing on 15 January, 2011, Daniel Roberts lost his life. Without warning he was lost to his family and friends.”

The sheriff described Mr Roberts’ wife as having “lost her life partner”.

He added: “There’s no sentence I can pass that will have any impact on their loss and grief and the fact you caused death is a fact I must take into account.”

Afzal was also disqualified from driving for a year and must re-sit a test at the end of that.

The court heard that the driver of a car coming the other way along the dual carriageway spotted Mr Roberts beginning to cross and slowed down.

But Afzal, who passed his test three months earlier, said he did not notice him because he was wearing dark clothing.

His Audi collided with Mr Roberts, who died of a fractured skull and bleeding on the brain.

Witnesses at the scene said that Afzal told them he had not phoned an ambulance and said he then added: “I don’t want to use up credit on my phone.”

Depute fiscal Natalie Henderson, prosecuting, said: “The accused’s first thought was for himself. Everyone knows that calls to 999 are free.”