Speeding driver jailed for killing man as he crossed road

Police closed Calder Road for five hours after Mr McGovern was struck by the car

A speeding driver who killed a 21-year-old father In Edinburgh while running late for a shift has been jailed for three years and nine months.

Evan Davis was travelling at more than 60mph when he struck Stephen McGovern on the city's Calder Road while diving to Aberdeen for work.

It is believed McGovern - who worked in a café and had a young child - may have been crossing the road to catch a bus at the time.

Davis, 22, was sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow having previously admitted causing Mr McGovern's death by dangerous driving on 4 July 2023.

Judge Lord Arthurson cut the prison term from five years after Davis' guilty plea, but banned him from driving for five years upon his release.

He also suggested Davis, of Bonnyrigg, Midlothian, "undertake future voluntary work" in memory of his victim.

The court heard how a van driver had been aware of Davis approaching at speed in a Toyota Auris.

He then undertook the van and a grey Seat car.

The other motorist noticed Mr McGovern jump over a fence in the central reservation in order to cross the road.

Prosecutor David Dickson told how Davis continued in the nearside lane as the grey Seat began to slow down.

Mr McGovern then stepped into the road, hesitated and was struck by Davis' vehicle.

He suffered head, chest and neck injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.

'Nightmares and flashbacks'

The court heard that in order to avoid Mr McGovern when he stepped onto the road Davis would have had to have been driving at 36mph.

However, he had instead increased the speed of his car from 53mph to more than 62mph in the four seconds before impact.

Davis was said to be visibly distressed when he got out of the vehicle and called the emergency services.

He later asked police officers: "How am I going to live with this?"

Davis' lawyer, John Scullion KC, said his client was tormented by "nightmares and flashbacks" about the crash.

He added: "He has considerable empathy for the ongoing pain and suffering of Mr McGovern's family".

Sentencing, Lord Arthurson told Davis: "You were in a hurry, you were running late.

"Your time was more important to you than the welfare of fellow road users.

"As a result, you killed Mr McGovern. You now have to live with that.

"Live your life well and, perhaps, undertake future voluntary work in memory of your victim."