An north-east community stalwart who claims an epileptic fit caused her to run down two women should not be compared to Harry Clark and the Glasgow bin lorry tragedy, a court heard yesterday.
Hilda Lumsden-Gill is on trial at Aberdeen Sheriff Court accused of driving dangerously in her green Jaguar X-Type and leaving two pedestrians seriously injured.
But the Huntly Community Council chairwoman – who is thought to be epileptic – has lodged a special defence claiming she was having a “complex partial seizure” at the time and was in a state of “automatism”.
Fiscal depute Anne MacDonald has urged the jury to find that the former teacher was not having a fit at the time, and has claimed she was being “deceitful” by lying about having a seizure.
She said the 59-year-old, of Craigdhu, 2 Lennox Terrace, Huntly, was distracted when she hit a pick-up truck and drove into Pauline Thomson and Georgina Cowper.
However yesterday the court heard evidence from a consultant neurologist.
He said it was his opinion that Lumsden-Gill had suffered a seizure.
Dr Jonathan O’Riordan said he had come to this conclusion by studying her medical history and statements provided by witnesses. who spoke of her “dozy” and “vacant” behaviour.
The court previously heard Lumsden-Gill had suffered from seizures occasionally since 1996, and that despite MRIs and scans being carried out doctors could never give her a proper diagnosis.
Jurors were told that on three occasions between her first fit and the incident, which happened in Huntly’s Bogie Street on May 7, 2014, she had voluntarily handed over her licence to the DVLA.
On the day of the incident, more than three years had passed since she had suffered from a complex partial seizure.
Addressing the jury during closing speeches Lumsden-Gill’s defence counsel, Niall McClusky, said: “The reason there was huge public furore over Harry Clark after he crashed the bin lorry in Glasgow is because he repeatedly lied to get driving jobs. He deceived the authorities and that’s why there’s been public outcry.”
Mr McClusky said this differed to Lumsden-Gill who had always been honest with the DVLA when she had suffered from any seizure.
He urged the jury to take into account her good character and social standing and lack of criminal record when deciding on a verdict.
Jurors are expected to begin considering their verdicts today.
