A police force has introduced an intensive emergency driving course for officers since two pedestrians were killed by a patrol car, Aberdeen Sheriff Court has heard.

The trial was also told the car involved in the fatal incident would normally have been driven by a more experienced officer - but he was driving Grampian's chief constable to a function.

Police constable Andrew Baynes denies driving dangerously and at excessive speed in Aberdeen's Great Western Road and causing the deaths of Sydney and Christine Carey in November 1998.

Armed robbery report

Sergeant Norman Hardy told the court he came across the accident while driving to Culter on the outskirts of Aberdeen after a report of an armed robbery.

Under cross-examination by defence advocate Gerry Carroll, Sgt Hardy agreed that Constable Baynes had a more experienced driving partner, Constable Gary Spark, who would have been at the wheel if he had been available.

Constable Spark, however, was driving the head of the force to a remembrance day function.

Sgt Hardy also revealed that at the time of the accident, a Grampian Police officer could drive a police vehicle in an emergency after a half-hour assessment of driving capability.

Since the accident, officers have had to undergo an intensive three week training course before they are The trial before Sheriff Principal Douglas Risk continues.

Clipped parked vehicle

Earlier, the court heard evidence from a doctor about how Mr and Mrs Carey had died.

The jury has already heard that PC Baynes was on his way to an armed robbery when he clipped a parked vehicle, mounted the pavement and pinned the couple to the wall of a granite tenement.

Mr Carey, a former oil worker, bore the brunt of the impact with the Vauxhall Omega.