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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
National
Abigail Nicholson

Man killed dad of three and drove away with blood stained windscreen

A man driving a stolen car killed a dad-of-three and drove away with a blood stained and shattered windscreen.

Shaun Rimmer, 28, was driving a stolen Seat Leon through Aberdeen at high speeds while being chased by police.

As he fled at around 50mph in a 30mph zone, Rimmer, from Liverpool, hit Simon Musabayana, 48, as he crossed a road.

READ MORE: School's message to parents after teen stabbed outside

Despite the car's windscreen being stained with blood and shattered, Rimmer continued to flee by putting his head out of the driver's side window so he could see the road.

Soon after he abandoned the Seat Leon, which was stolen from Cheshire 12 days before the crash.

After the incident Rimmer made no attempt to hand himself in, and it wasn't until forensic evidence linked Rimmer to the vehicle that he was arrested in Liverpool.

Mental health nurse Mr Musabayana died in hospital 26 days after the crash after suffering extensive and catastrophic injuries.

Rimmer, admitted causing the death of Musabayana by driving dangerously on August 16, 2021, by driving at excessive and inappropriate speeds. He also admitted driving while disqualified and without insurance, when he appeared at the High Court in Edinburgh.

Rimmer was jailed for eight years and banned from driving for 14 years.

A judge told Rimmer his victim was "a much loved father, husband and son" who was the main earner for his family in this country but also his extended family in Zimbabwe.

The prosecutor, Richard Goddard QC, said: "He was married for 22 years and resided with his wife and three children aged 19, 17 and 10. His wife has described him as a family man who had also committed himself to academic studies."

The judge told Rimmer: "The harm could not be more serious. You left a man horribly injured, injuries from which he later succumbed. It is clear had you been driving within the speed limit Simon Musabayana would not be dead."

The judge told Rimmer he would have jailed him for 12 years had he been convicted of the dangerous driving offence after trial, but that would be discounted following his guilty plea. The court heard how Rimmer was driving at around 50mph in a 30mph speed zone.

Mr Goddard said: "At an average speed of 50mph, the accused and the deceased would have less than two seconds to react to each other's presence prior to the collision and a collision was inevitable.

"Collision investigators calculated that had the accused been driving within the speed limit, he would have had time to stop prior to impact."

Mr Musabayana suffered serious injuries, including a traumatic brain injury, a fractured skull, fractured pelvis and multiple facial fractures. He underwent operations, including to amputate his right arm and left leg, and remained in critical care.

Mr Goddard said: "In the days and weeks that followed he made no neurological recovery. He suffered worsening infections which led to sepsis and multi organ failure."

Defence counsel Neil Shand, for Rimmer, said: "He fully recognises the devastation his actions have caused to Mr Musabayana and his family. He also recognises that his apology is likely to give no comfort to the family."

He said that after the collision Rimmer had "lacked the moral courage to stop and do the right thing".

The court heard how Rimmer has "a lengthy criminal record" which included theft of motor vehicles and driving while disqualified.

The prosecutor said Rimmer was jailed for seven years for aggravated burglary and 57 months for kidnapping at Liverpool Crown Court in April 2015.

He was later jailed for a further 16 months and banned from driving for almost four years at the same court after he was convicted of taking and driving away a vehicle, dangerous driving and going equipped for theft.

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