Jail for crash pictures Russian

The trial heard how Meyl took photographs

A Russian driver who took pictures of a car he had collided with, killing the two occupants, has been jailed for five years.

Vadim Meyl was also banned from driving in the UK for 10 years when he appeared at the High Court in Edinburgh.

Jean MacRae, 61, and her son James died in the crash on the A96 Keith to Fochabers Road in September last year.

Meyl's speeding car collided with that of his victims, forcing it down an embankment.

At the time while her was only slightly injured he got his camera out of the car and photographed the accident," said Lord MacLean Trial judge Lord MacLean

At his trial it was revealed that Meyl was so relieved to be alive that he took out his camera and photographed the crash scene.

Before jailing him, judge Lord MacLean heard that the accused had shown little remorse.

The court heard that the victims' Volkswagen Polo car, which was being driven by Mr MacRae, 41, had been pushed down an embankment and into a river by Meyl in his speeding Toyota.

Meyl had been speeding to keep an appointment at the top school Gordonstoun, near Elgin.

Meyl, 32, whose family live near Moscow, had been working in Britain finding placements for Russian students at leading schools.

Mr MacRae, of Culduthel Park, Inverness, died almost instantly and his mother Jean, of Ballon Road, Inverness, died moments later, holding his hand.

Meyl, who gave a London address, denied blame for the crash on 1 September, 2002.

However, a jury found him guilty of causing death by dangerous driving.

Lord MacLean told Meyl, who was accompanied by an interpreter, that he was found guilty of dangerous driving at the scene of the crash and over a substantial distance beforehand, when he was involved in two other incidents.

'Heartfelt plea'

The judge said: "I have to infer from all the evidence I heard that the reason for the excessive speed at which you were going at various parts of your journey between Keith and the accident was because you realised you were late for an appointment in or near Elgin.

"You were behind the clock."

Witnesses at the earlier trial had described how passers-by tried to reach the MacRaes' car.

"At the time while he was only slightly injured he got his camera out of the car and photographed the accident," said Lord MacLean.

"The explanation he gave in evidence was that he wanted to record a day on which he had escaped death."

Solicitor-advocate Gary McAteer, defending, said Meyl had been affected by the crash and had only wanted pictures as evidence of what had happened.

He said his demeanour may have been due to his Russian background.

"It may seem callous but in my opinion it is it is possibly not the appropriate interpretation," said Mr McAteer.

His parents had sent a "heartfelt plea" for his freedom.

Relatives of the victims were too upset to comment on the case.