Driver cleared over 'car-surfing' death

Chris Findlay died four days after the incident

A driver has been cleared of causing the death of his friend who was thrown from the bonnet of a moving car on the Orkney island of Stronsay.

A jury cleared Matthew Duffy, 19, of causing the death of 17-year-old Chris Findlay by dangerous driving.

The trial at the High Court in Inverness had heard a so-called 'car-surfing' stunt had gone wrong.

Mr Findlay died of head and neck injuries four days after mounting the bonnet of Mr Duffy's car in May 2008.

During the three-day trial jurors were told that the friends had been drinking and in good spirits before the tragedy.

The tragic circumstances will always be present with them and with the wider community in which they live Findlay family spokesman

Mr Duffy, who was 17 at the time and held a provisional licence, said he initially froze when Christopher Findlay took to the bonnet of his car.

He said he had travelled up to 65 yards along the waterfront road on Stronsay before Mr Findlay fell off.

Mr Duffy said: "I looked down to check I was in gear and was releasing the clutch when I heard a thud and saw Chris scrambling around on the side of the bonnet.

"I froze. I suppose I panicked and did not know what to do. He started to fall off. As soon as he was clear of the bonnet I slammed on the brakes to stop the car."

'Bruised and battered'

The teenager said he immediately jumped out of the car to see if Mr Findlay was okay, but found him bleeding in the middle of the road.

Mr Findlay died at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary four days later, after striking his head on the ground and suffering several skull fractures.

Speaking after the trial, a spokesman for Mr Findlay's family said: "The tragic circumstances will always be present with them and with the wider community in which they live.

"No proceedings can ever alter that nor the fact that Chris, and the life he will now never have, will remain in the memory of his loved ones forever."

Judge Lord Morris said: "It is a small community, and it has been left bruised and battered."