University Technician Admits Killing Motorcyclist on A9

A Glasgow University technician has admitted killing a father by driving into his motorbike as he made his way home from a family christening.

Mona Rahman failed to see Mervyn Taylor's motorbike leading a line of traffic and he died instantly when she pulled out of a tourist spot and smashed into him.

Rahman, 60, who is Art & Design Technician in the university's Education Department, admitted causing Mr Taylor's death on the A9 by careless driving.

Mr Taylor had attended the christening in the north of Scotland and had travelled separately from his wife and daughter because he was a keen biker and wanted to use his motorcycle.

He was travelling south to his Norfolk home when he was fatally struck by Rahman's Jeep at the notorious junction between the A9 and the B8079 at Blair Atholl.

She had been had been driving north to attend an event when she decided to pull in to the House of Bruar shopping complex in Highland Perthshire.

It was when Rahman came back out of the House of Bruar and tried to turn right to rejoin the northbound A9 that she drove into the path of Mr Taylor's motorbike.

A source close to the case said: "Mr Taylor had been seen overtaking a number of vehicles in the minutes beforehand including, ultimately, a lorry.

"He had pulled back in to the right side of the road and would have been clearly visible to anyone trying to pull on and across the road from the House of Bruar exit.

"There's no clear explanation why Mrs Rahman never saw him. It seems as if she was trying to pull out before the lorry and simply never saw the bike."

Rahman, Greendyke Street, Glasgow, admitted causing the death of Mr Taylor, 56, from Dereham, Norfolk, by driving carelessly on the A9 on 21 April last year.

She admitted failing to give way when leaving the B-road and driving across the A9 into the path of Mr Taylor's motorcycle, killing him.

Sheriff Michael Fletcher told Peth Sheriff Court that the serious consequences caused by Rahman's carelessness meant he would have to put the case off.

He deferred sentence for the preparation of reports and Rahman's bail was continued. Mr Taylor's family said he was "greatly missed" but declined to comment further.