Speeding driver with no licence killed ‘bright, caring’ girl, 16
A ‘bright and caring’ teenager was mown down and killed by a speeding Albanian driver with an expired driving licence, a court heard yesterday.
Sophie Geddes, 16, suffered horrific injuries after being hit by Florjan Dajti, who was described by witnesses as ‘hammering’ down a road in Glasgow in December 2020.
The Notre Dame High School pupil died a short time later in the city’s Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.
Sophie’s headteacher, Rosemary Martin, paid tribute to the teenager shortly after her death, saying she would ‘always have a special place in our hearts’.
Ms Martin added: ‘We are absolutely devastated. Sophie was more than a pupil at our school.
Sophie Geddes, 16, had multiple injuries
‘She was a very valued member of the community and a joy to be around.
‘She was bright, caring, loving and went out her way to help others – a genuine ambassador for our school.’
Albanian-born Dajti had only been living in Scotland since October 2019.
He held a full driving licence issued by his homeland, but it was only valid for 12 months in the UK and had expired weeks before the fatal collision.
Dajti had been due to stand trial at the High Court in Glasgow.
But the 33 year-old instead pleaded guilty yesterday to causing Sophie’s death by dangerous driving.
The warehouse worker had been on bail, but was remanded in custody by judge Simon Collins, KC.
Dajti will be sentenced next month.
Sophie, of the city’s Knightswood area, had gone out that night to meet one of her friends.
Dajti, of Scotstoun, Glasgow, was driving his Ford Focus on the city’s Great Western Road when he struck the teenager.
Prosecutor Alex Sutherland said: ‘He was driving at an excessive speed.
‘He was described by an eye witness as “hammering” down the road.’
Mr Sutherland added: ‘Dajti failed to notice Sophie Geddes, failed to brake or take other evasive action in time. He also did not sound his horn.’
The court heard that the teenager had been on the road for ‘more than four seconds’ when she was hit.
The prosecutor added: ‘Drivers have an extensive view of the road ahead. Dajti ought to have seen her.’
Sophie suffered ‘multiple injuries’ including fractures to her skull and pelvis.
She was taken to hospital, but died the following morning.
Florjan Dajti pled guilty at court
The court heard it was calculated from marks on the road that Dajti had been driving at between 37-50mph at the time of the collision, but that this could be an ‘underestimate’.
The limit on that stretch was 30mph.
Photographs were shown yesterday of Dajti’s badly damaged car following the incident.
He also struck another car, leaving its driver hurt, after hitting Sophie.
Mr Sutherland said Sophie was survived by her parents Stephen and Paula as well as her younger sister Ruby.
Dajti’s defence lawyer Jim Keegan, KC, told the court: ‘He is very sorry for what happened.’
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