Published: Tuesday, 15th April, 2008 10:00
DEATH DRIVER MOWED DOWN FOOTIE FAN
By Court Reporter
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DRIVING: Nazir
A SPEEDING handyman mowed down and killed a Norweigan football fan as he tried to cross the road.
Jan Kalleklev was in Glasgow to watch his country’s friendly match against Scotland when he was struck by Vale man Javid Nazir’s powerful jeep.
The dad-of-three was sent hurtling through the air and later died due to his serious injuries.
Nazir had told a trial that he did not see the 51-year-old — but a witness said he must have been “driving with his eyes shut”.
He was convicted of causing death by dangerous driving at the High Court in Glasgow.
A judge warned him that a jail term is likely when he returns to be sentenced next month.
The tragic accident happened near the city’s Corus Hotel in Argyle Street around midnight on April 2 2006.
Mr Kalleklev had travelled over from his hometown in Bergen to watch the game at Hampden.
Nazir told the court that he had been in the area “killing time” before he met a friend.
The 39-year-old added that he had not been checking the speedometer of his 4x4 Toyota Land Cruiser with the private registration B16 JAV.
The court heard that Nazir could have been driving as fast as 55mph in a 30mph zone.
He said he had briefly checked his rearview when he suddenly became aware of Mr Kalleklev in front of him and that he could not stop until it was “too late”.
It emerged after the verdict that Nazir has previous road traffic convictions including driving while disqualified.
Judge Lord Turnbull deferred sentencing until next month.
He told Nazir: “It appears inevitable that a custodial sentence will follow.”
Before the trial began, Nazir, of 2 Hogarth Court, Rosshead, Alexandria, admitted to failing to turn up for a previous court appearance last August, saying he had “forgotten the date”.
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