A drink-driver who caused a fatal accident which destroyed the lives of a newly-wed couple has been jailed for four years.
Dundee businessman Russell McKeever lost control of his powerful Audi A6 on the A933 near Arbroath and ploughed head-on into Colin Taylor’s Citroen Picasso, killing him and the family’s pet terrier Kola who was beside him.
Mr Taylor’s wife Julie who was travelling in the back seat because she was a “nervous passenger” was trapped in the wreckage beside her dead husband. Although she survived the crash she suffered terrible physical and mental injuries, the High Court at Livingston was told.
As she was comforted by members of her family outside court, Mrs Taylor said she was ”very upset” by the outcome.
She added: “We’re all disappointed that it wasn’t enough of a sentence.”
In addition to the prison term, McKeever, 42, was disqualified from driving for six years and eight months and ordered to pass the extended driving test.
Judge Lord Armstrong said a victim impact statement provided by Mrs Taylor had been “eloquent in its terms”.
He said the couple had married just a short time before the crash after spending 30 years together as life partners.
Mr Taylor, 59, had died instantly from “massive, unsurvivable injuries”. His wife suffered multiple broken bones and needed more than 12 hours of surgery.
Lord Armstrong told McKeever he recognised from testimonial letters that he was a respected member of the local community and was assessed as at low risk of re-offending.
However, he added: “Having regard to the criminal culpability in this case I have come to the conclusion that there is no alternative to a custodial disposal.”
At an earlier hearing, the court had heard that McKeever had been at a pub in Broughty Ferry for lunch with his ex-wife and her friend.
He had one glass of wine but went back to the friend’s home after stopping at a supermarket to buy more alcohol.
By the time he left the friend’s house abruptly and without any explanation McKeever was drunk.
Four hours after the crash McKeever gave an alcohol reading of 226mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood, the limit at the time being 80mg.
McKeever was allowed to remain free on bail until his case came to court in December. His prison sentence was backdated to December 7.