Grace Ross ran over and killed boyfriend with car after row over money

A woman ran over and killed her boyfriend in her car after a money row.

Grace Ross, 21, hit Joshua Kerr close to the farm where he worked in Leslie, near Glenrothes, Fife on May 22 2020.

The 18-year-old never survived having suffered a catastrophic head injury.

Ross – of Fife, who had been due to study politics at Dundee University at the time – on Tuesday pled guilty to causing Joshua’s death by careless driving.

A judge warned her she faces a possible jail-term when she is sentenced next month.

Prosecutor Gavin Anderson told the High Court in Glasgow how the couple had been together for three years.

They had an argument before the incident over Joshua’s finances including what was described as a “cash app” on his phone.

Mr Anderson told the hearing it was Ross’s “suspicion” that the farmhand was hiding things from her.

The advocate depute: “She said she was coming to the farm unless he handed over the code to the cash app.”

Ross then turned up around 11am that morning.

It was there she got hold of Joshua’s phone and got back into her Vauxhall Corsa.

Ross initially accelerated harshly – her boyfriend was not in front of the vehicle at the time.

She then went on to do a three-point turn on the narrow road.

Ross was said to be travelling at just 2.3mph before she then hit Joshua.

Mr Anderson: “He was struck by the front offside which caused him to fall and then be under the car.

“Once he was lying on his back, both of the offside wheels went over him.

“One left a tyre tread imprint on his trousers as it passed over his leg.

“The rear offside wheel ran over his head and caused a significant skull fracture – the injury was incompatible with life.”

A hysterical Ross immediately leapt out the motor screaming and rushed to help the teenager before dialling 999.

Joshua never recovered from his injuries.

Ross, of Glenrothes, begged police who arrived that she wanted to give her boyfriend “one last hug”, but was stopped from doing so.

She told officers: “He jumped in front of me and I hit him. We had a fight and I came up to see him.

“When I tried to leave, he jumped in front of me and I hit him.”

It also emerged her concerns about the app were said to be “unfounded”.

Ross initially appeared in the dock days after the incident charged with Joshua’s murder.

When the case first called at the high court last October, she was instead accused of causing death by dangerous driving before pleading guilty to the lesser charge on Tuesday.

Donald Findlay QC, defending, said: “On many occasions that I have met her, she has done nothing other than express the deepest levels of sadness and regret as to what happened to this young man.”

Lord Braid continued bail pending sentencing next month in Edinburgh.

Ross was banned from the road meantime.

The judge warned her: “Be under no illusions, the sentencing options including custody remain open.”