A man has told a court how he tried to save the life of a man after he was allegedly hit by a drink driver on the way to a party.
Richard Jones died after being struck by a car on the B9033 Fraserburgh to St Combs road near Cairnbulg Cemetery on May 23 last year.
It is alleged that Steven Duthie, 31, caused his death by driving dangerously while under the influence of drink and drugs.
Today William Stephen, 34, said he had given Mr Jones and Duthie a lift to a party in Inverallochy after a night out in nearby Fraserburgh.
But Mr Stephen said he threw Mr Jones out of the car when he started "bickering" with Duthie.
The High Court in Aberdeen heard Mr Jones then threw a brick at the people carrier while it was travelling on the countryside road.
Mr Stephen said he got out of the car and confronted Mr Jones over the incident.
The court heard Mr Stephen describe how Mr Jones then walked out into the road and was hit by Mr Stephen’s own car, driven by Duthie.
Giving evidence Mr Stephen said: "I remember standing back from the road in the layby. He went across the road waving his hands into the right hand carriageway.
"I was screaming at him to get off the road. Next thing I know, the car struck him, that's when I realised it was my car."
Mr Stephen told the court he "froze" when he saw Mr Jones lying on the grass verge and went to help him.
He told the court his breathing was "very faint" and there was signs of some blood but he could see no other injuries.
He said: "He started breathing, like a grogging noise. I sat him up a wee bit to see if that would help. I was phoning 999. I remember them asking me if he had any injuries and I looked at him, he was lying flat on his back.
"I put him in the recovery poisition and tried to clear his airways."
He then headed back to the party to call an ambulance because his mobile phone had run out of batteries.
Mr Stephen told the court Duthie had tried to swerve away from Mr Jones who was standing in the middle of the road before he was struck.
Asked why he thought Mr Jones had been standing on the road, he replied: "In my opinion, he was trying to flag a car for a run home, something like that."
Duthie, from Fraserburgh, is further claimed to have driven without a licence, washed the car to destroy the evidence and repeatedly asked his friend not to contact emergency services.
He denies all charges.
The trial continues.
