Horse breeder in fatal crash found ‘not proven’

A successful horse breeder who was accused of causing death by careless driving has been allowed to return home after the jury declared a ‘not-proven’ verdict.

Blind spot

Jacqueline Low-Mitchell, a former showjumper who runs Balcormo Stud in Levan, Fife, was accused of killing Adam Maxwell in a car crash in November 2013.

The 83-year-old was driving a Jeep Cherokee and towing a trailer, when she collided with Adam’s Vauxhall Nova. No horses were involved.

According to four witnesses Jacqueline was on the wrong side of the road at the time of the collision, after overtaking a bicycle while approaching a blind spot.

Brain dead

Police said she was approximately 40 centimetres into the other lane.

Jacqueline, who defended herself, toldthe jury at Dundee Sheriff Courtshe had “completed my manoeuvre” and claimed it was the other driver who was on the wrong side of the road at the time of the accident.

“I wasn’t able to avoid the collision,” she said.

Paramedics arrived on the scene after the cyclist called 999. The 28-year-old mechanic was airlifted to Ninewells Hospital in Dundee where he was put on life support. Adam was announced as brain dead the next morning and his ventilator was turned off.

Non-proven verdict

After hearing both sides of the case, the jury returned a not-proven verdict by majority andJacqueline was free to go.

The former dairy farmer ran Balcormo Stud with her husband Dugald – who was honorary president of the Scottish Sports Horse – until his death, two years ago, aged 91. Her daughter Sandra, who competes in showjumping, now helps run the business.