Judge rejects man’s claim on accident

Judge rejects man’s claim on accident

31 July 2013

A JUDGE has dismissed a Killough man’s claim that he tried to be a hero and rescue a man who was trapped in a crashed car.

District Judge Greg McCourt said he “didn’t believe a word” 23 year-old Cain Johnson had said at Downpatrick Court on Monday and he convicted him of a series of serious motoring offences.

Johnson, of Seaview, had denied stealing a car, crashing it, driving without insurance and driving while disqualified.

The charges arose after a car which had been stolen from Killough was found crashed near the village. An attempt had been made to set fire to the vehicle.

Johnson’s blood was found at the scene and he was later arrested by police.

At the court on Thursday Johnson claimed he had been out walking when he came across the accident scene. A man was trapped in the car so Johnson said he broke a window and helped him out of the vehicle.

“When he got out he said he didn’t want to call an ambulance or police and tried to burn the car as he said insurance would deal with it,” he said.

Under questioning from the prosecution Johnson said that it was normal for him to be walking on the road four-and-a-half miles from his home early in the morning when he couldn’t sleep.

District Judge Greg McCourt said: “This is a case of credibility. If the defence is to be believed the defendant is to have walked nine miles in one-and-a-half hours and the mystery man was okay after the crash and then tried to set fire to the car.

“As far as Mr. Johnson is concerned I don’t believe a word you have said. Why anyone with a sleeping problem would want to walk four-and-a-half miles away to become sleepy and have to walk home,” he said.

Johnson will be sentenced on September 5 after the preparation of a pre sentence report.