Engineer who insisted he was 'careful and competent driver' faces jail after being convicted of killing woman in hit and run

JOHN Henderson, who was convicted at the High Court in Glasgow of causing death by dangerous driving, ran over Audrey Gray, 50, then fled the scene without calling for help.

Spindrift Photo Agency John Henderson at the High Court in Glasgow
John Henderson at the High Court in Glasgow

AN ENGINEER who boasted he was a “competent driver” has been convicted of killing a woman in a hit and run.

John Henderson ran over Audrey Gray shortly after he had been at a Rangers match.

Despite the 50-year-old lying dying on the road, Henderson fled and never called for help.

He told a jury the death was a tragic accident after his vehicle lurched forward as he tried to adjust his car seat.

Henderson insisted: “I’m a careful and competent driver.”

But he could now face jail after he was convicted at the High Court in Glasgow yesterday of causing death by dangerous driving.

During his trial, the jury heard that Audrey was seen shouting towards the car Henderson
was in shortly before the fatal collision in the city’s Drumoyne area on May 4 last year.

Henderson and his son had just left Ibrox Stadium with friends after celebrating Rangers winning the Division Three title.

Audrey appeared to keep shouting at them as they got in the car.

Jobeth Boyle, 16, choked back tears as she recalled how she saw her friend being run over.

She told the court: “When he turned the wheel around, the side of the car hit her then drove over her and then away.”

Jobeth said she raced to help Audrey and tried to rouse her, then phoned for an ambulance.

Other passers-by also tried to help Audrey, who lived nearby, but she never recovered from her injuries.

In evidence, Henderson claimed the car had lurched forward after his foot slipped off the clutch while he was adjusting his seat.

Audrey Gray never recovered
Audrey Gray never recovered

He told Gordon Jackson QC, defending, that he remembered feeling a “big bump” but that he had not meant to hit Audrey.

He said he stopped near the scene but never went to help.

Asked why, he said: “I honestly don’t know ... shock, panic. My thought processes had just gone.”

Henderson, of Bishopton, Renfrewshire, was arrested the next day and initially charged with Audrey’s murder.

In cross-examination, prosecutor Bruce Erroch said Henderson’s actions that day were not those of a “careful and competent driver”.

Henderson said: “I am a careful and competent driver.” Erroch said: “You think you were that day?”

The accused said: “I made errors that day, but under duress.”

Judge Lord Carloway def-erred sentence until August 20 and bail was continued.