Plymouth taxi driver convicted over crossing death
A taxi driver who killed a 76-year-old man when he drove through a red light has been convicted of causing death by dangerous driving.
Gordon Hollister was knocked down on a busy crossing at Woolwell roundabout in Plymouth in December last year.
Andrew Bates, 44, of Warwick Orchard Close, Plymouth, was found guilty by a jury at the city's crown court.
He was given an interim driving ban and will be sentenced in January.
Bates was driving an eight-seater private hire cab when he accelerated to "beat the traffic lights" at Woolwell roundabout as the victim crossed a two lane stretch of road after a supermarket trip, the court heard.
Prosecutor Jo Martin said: "He crossed because the lights were green for him as a pedestrian and red for the driver Mr Bates.
"What he (Bates) was trying to do in accelerating was trying to beat the traffic lights. He had seen Mr Hollister at the traffic island pressing the button."
The defendant had told the jury that he had not been in a rush on the day and was "almost sure" the lights had been green.
Bates was released on bail until his sentencing.