The lawyer defending a plumber accused of causing the death of a popular primary teacher has said his client would never knowingly hitch a defective trailer to his truck.
Raymond Lamb is on trial for allegedly driving dangerously and killing mum-of-two Yvonne Lumsden in a crash just north of Ellon in 2019.
The popular teacher was driving her husband and two daughters, aged four and six, home from a holiday in London when their car was struck by a trailer that had come loose from Lamb’s vehicle.
Defence advocate David Moggach today told the High Court in Aberdeen that Lamb had been “consistent” in his claim that he properly connected the trailer to his Mitsubishi L200 before he set off.
It’s alleged Lamb, 31, knew the trailer that had a defective braking system. He is also accused of driving without insurance.
Lamb, of Barryfarm, Maud, denies all the charges against him.
During the fifth day of the trial, Mr Moggach gave his closing speech to the jury and told them Lamb is “clear that the trailer was attached properly” and had been consistent about his account of that day throughout the trial.
Stating that it would “make no sense” for Lamb to tow a defective trailer, Mr Moggach pointed to earlier evidence from his client’s brother, Mark Lamb, that the trailer had been used just three weeks before the accident with no issues with the brakes detected.
Both Lamb and his brother also gave evidence that their father had taken the trailer to the Borders “with no issues whatsoever”, Mr Moggach said.
Mrs Lumsden, 35, taught at Stuartfield School, near Old Deer, and was described at the time of her death as a “dedicated” and “cherished” teacher who was “loved by pupils”.
The court has previously heard that Lamb’s truck was travelling in the opposite direction to the family’s car when the trailer swung out into their path as they approached.
Mrs Lumsden was fatally injured and died in hospital. Her husband Stuart and one of their daughters also sustained injuries.
‘Gross negligence’
In her closing speech, advocate depute Michelle Brannagan claimed the trailer towed by Lamb on July 12 2019 was not “correctly, securely or safely” attached to the truck.
“If it had been, it wouldn’t have detached and Mrs Lumsden wouldn’t have died that day,” she told the jury.
Ms Brannagan accused Lamb of being “grossly inattentive” and showing a “high degree of negligence”.
Referring to the fact that Lamb was qualified to drive a trailer, she told the jury: “Raymond Lamb knew how to secure a trailer. If he knew how to do it, how could he have missed something so obvious?
“It is nothing short of gross negligence on Mr Lamb’s part.”
The jury will hear legal direction from Judge Alistair Watson on Monday morning before retiring to consider their verdict.
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