A woman who killed a pensioner after taking control of the wheel of a car while she sat in her partner’s lap broke down in court as she relived the “nightmare” of the fatal crash.
Kylie Johnston sobbed as she told the judge she would “take whatever punishment” he gave her for her part in killing Andrew MacKay on July 21 2013.
But she insisted she was only partially to blame for the tragedy and said her ex-boyfriend Nathaniel Cooper had full control of the steering wheel and pedals seconds before their car careered into the side of a static caravan.
Mr MacKay died minutes after the silver Daihatsu Terio struck him and pinned him down. The pensioner suffered significant chest injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene shortly after paramedics arrived.
Earlier this year Johnston, of Newbigging Drive, Stonehaven, admitted causing Mr MacKay’s death by driving dangerously.
She took responsibility for controlling the steering wheel of the car as it crossed a grassy area and crashed through a fence at the East Balthangie Caravan Park near Cuminestown in Aberdeenshire.
Johnston, 26, had also been accused of driving without a licence or insurance but pleas of not guilty were accepted.
Cooper is also alleged to have caused Mr MacKay’s death by driving dangerously but he denies the charge against him.
He is on trial at the High Court in Aberdeen, accused of controlling the accelerator, brake and clutch from the driver’s seat while Johnston operated the steering wheel.
Giving evidence against the 30-year-old, Johnston told the court that Cooper, of Queens Road, Inverbervie, had encouraged her to come over on to his knees while he taught her how to drive on the country road.
The court heard she got into the driver’s seat with Cooper and moved off slowly. However, she said the car started to go out of control when they approached a toilet block that they narrowly avoided hitting.
She said at this point she let go of the wheel and Cooper took over but seconds later they crashed into the caravan and Mr MacKay.
The trial before Lord Stewart continues.