Driver was texting when he killed pedestrian a week before Christmas
Posted: Thu May 17, 2018 2:07 pm
Robert Morris died three days after being hit by Steven Russell's Jaguar in Ansty Road, Coventry
A driver who was texting at around the time he ploughed into a pedestrian on a busy Coventry road has been told he will go to prison.
Steven Russell failed to brake before his Jaguar hit 57-year-old Robert Morris in Ansty Road, Walsgrave, in December 2016.
Mr Morris, who had been for a family drink at a nearby pub, suffered "severe injuries" and died three days later.
Russell, 42, of Adelaide Street, Hillfields, had pleaded not guilty to causing Mr Morris' death by dangerous driving, but after almost seven hours of deliberating the jury found him guilty by a majority of 10-1 – after the judge had discharged one juror for a reason which cannot be reported.
Russell then pleaded guilty to a further offence of harassment, and the case was adjourned for a pre-sentence report to be prepared on him.
Remanding him ahead of sentencing, Judge Andrew Lockhart QC told him: “You will go to custody for that in due course.”
After the jury had returned its verdicts, the court heard the harassment offence involved Russell threatening his daughter’s partner in phone calls, texts and by turning up at his home.
Russell will be sentenced on May 25.