Man died 'after joke went wrong'

A REVELLER died on a birthday night out after a prank went wrong and he fell from the bonnet of a car, a court heard yesterday.

Shaun Jappy, 23, jumped on Sarah Heatherwick's Mini in Montrose and jokingly demanded to be taken to a nearby pub.

She is accused of causing his death by dangerous driving after he was thrown under the vehicle when she drove off. Heatherwick, 20, of Brechin, denies the charges.

At the first day of her trial at the High Court in Aberdeen, Mr Jappy's younger brother, Lee, now 23, told how he tried to get his brother out from under the car.

He said: "Shaun was actually under the front of the Mini, under the bumper. I shouted to the driver to reverse off, to reverse back, but I pushed the car back before she did."

The accident happened on 4 July, 2008, as the brothers were heading to a friend's 21st birthday party at a pub called the Star.

The trainee welder was rushed to Ninewells Hospital in Dundee, but died shortly afterwards.

The trial continues.