Driver who inhaled laughing gas before killing frail pensioner crossing road in crash jailed

A driver who inhaled laughing gas before he killed a frail pensioner as she crossed a road with her walking stick has been jailed for five years.

Washe Manyatelo, 24, was driving a Mercedes C220 at excessive speed when he struck Annette Dixon, 70, after she got off a bus in Edinburgh.

Manyatelo – who fell asleep in a police car following the incident – later refused to provide a blood sample for testing following the tragedy claiming that it was against his religion, the High Court in Edinburgh heard.

The convicted drug trafficker admitted causing the death of his victim by driving dangerously on August 26 in 2023, when he appeared at court earlier this year. Sentence had been deferred for the court to obtain reports.

On Wednesday, Manyatelo appeared at the High Court in Edinburgh for sentencing. Defence advocate Iain McSporran KC told judge Lady Ross that his client was sorry for his actions.

However, Lady Ross told Manyatelo that he’d have to go to jail for his crimes.

Washe Manyatelo was jailed for five years on Wednesday. Police Scotland

Passing sentence, she said: “The night before, you had been at a party. You had not slept at all that night, or into the following day.

“You said that you would take some friends to their homes, and thought that you felt fine to drive, but that arrogant self-assessment of your condition was woefully wrong.

“You got into a car, a black Mercedes C220. It wasn’t your car. It was borrowed, but you had had it for a few months.

“There were a number of defects in the tyres, including dangerous defects, which would have meant a failure in an MOT test.

“This was a lady in her later years who was much loved by her family. I have read the victim impact statements, provided by her children, and they make it very clear that they were close to her and that she is missed terribly.
“The impact on them, and on other family members has been profound, and it continues.

“The sentence that I impose will not come close to matching their sorrow and their pain, and it cannot measure the value of Mrs Dixon’s life. No sentence could do that.”

At earlier proceedings, the court heard how Manyatelo drove the car on Stevenson Drive having inhaled nitrous oxide at excessive speed and failed to maintain proper observations.

He went into the opposing carriageway, mounted a pavement and grass verge and back onto the road where he struck the pensioner.

Other drivers took evasive action and he narrowly avoided hitting a stationary vehicle and carried out overtaking and undertaking manoeuvres when it was not safe to do so.

Manyatelo, who is currently serving a jail sentence for being concerned in the supply of cannabis, was found to have cocaine worth up to £1,400 on the streets, secreted on him internally after the crash.

Prosecutor John Keenan KC said: “At 3.29pm on Saturday August 2023, the deceased Annette Dixon got off a bus at the stop. Mrs Dixon walked with a four wheeled walking frame, in which was placed a bag for shopping.”

“Using her frame she slowly moved onto the roadway as westbound traffic cleared from her right hand side. The accused was driving eastbound on Stevenson Drive,” he said.

Several witnesses thought the Mercedes driven by Manyatelo was travelling in excess of 30mph in an area governed by a 20mph limit.

Mr Keenan said: “As it approached the junction with Balgreen Road, the Mercedes moved across the centre line of the road onto the westbound lane. The offside wheels of the car then mounted the grass verge on the south side of the road, travelled approximately 30 metres along the verge and road towards the bus stop, before moving back onto the westbound lane.”

“It was at this point that the Mercedes struck Mrs Dixon and her walking frame. She had just moved onto the roadway, she would have been clearly visible to the accused,” said the prosecutor.

“He did not swerve, break or take any other action to avoid striking Mrs Dixon. The speed on impact was between 26 and 35mph. The impact caused her to be projected around 4.5 metres further up the westbound lane,” said Mr Keenan.

Manyatelo did not slow down or stop after the collision but drove on before returning to the crash scene. Members of the public, including an off duty nurse, went to the aid of the stricken pedestrian. She was taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary but died from her injuries.

Manyatelo was cautioned by police and told them: “I think I was driving at 30. I think I hit her side on.”

Officers found four deflated balloons in his car along with a nitrous oxide canister.

It was discovered that the Mercedes he was driving would have failed an MOT because of the state of the tyres on the vehicle which would have affected steering and handling.

Manyatelo gave negative tests for alcohol, cannabis and cocaine. But officers who were dealing with him noticed that he appeared drowsy and sometimes looked at them with a glazed expression.

Mr Keenan said: “He was arrested and taken to Livingston police station. He slept for the duration of the journey and appeared confused when waking up.”

During a search of Manyatelo, formerly of Broomhouse Medway, Edinburgh, officers found a further balloon, similar to those seen in his car, and discovered he had 18 grams of cocaine hidden internally in a plastic bag.

He agreed to be examined by a doctor who expressed the opinion that he was impaired and that his condition may be due to drug consumption.

He was then told of a requirement for a blood sample and claimed he might faint and he did not like needles. Mr Keenan added: “He then declined to provide a sample on the basis that it was against his religion, but without explaining why that was so.”

On Wednesday, Mr McSporran said his client was an “extremely immature” man who had came to appreciate the seriousness off his actions.

He added: “He understands as time has gone on the devastating impact of his family on the family of the deceased.

“He has expressed remorse.”

Lady Ross also banned Manyatelo from driving for eight years and ten months.