A MURDER trial witness told how he found a man allegedly killed by a taxi driver lying dying on the road.

Josh Potter, 30, recalled Craig Kearney stricken, bleeding and appearing to be choking.

Jurors today heard how mercy crews tried for more than 20 minutes to save the 24-year-old, but he never recovered.

Derek McClinton is on trial at the High Court in Glasgow charged with murdering Mr Kearney in the early hours of March 5, 2017 in East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire.

Prosecutors claim the 51-year-old struck him with his vehicle before running over his head and body.

Mr Potter told how he was returning home with his wife when they spotted a body.

The heating engineer said: "My wife noticed him first...he appeared to be lying on the middle of the road on his back."

The witness immediately called 999 and tried to get something to stem the blood.

Mr Potter: "He was bleeding from behind his head from what I could see."

He told prosecutor Liam Ewing QC there were no obvious injuries but added: "His eyes and mouth were open, it was like he was choking on blood or fluid in his mouth."

Mr Potter pinched his hand but "got nothing back at all."

The witness stated a nurse - who had been in a passing taxi - also tended to Mr Kearney with CPR carried out.

Mr Potter said a wallet was found in Mr Kearney's pocket to try and identify him.

The witness recalled finding the name "Craig".

Paramedic Anthony Lithgoe later told the trial today how there appeared to be "confusion" when he arrived at the scene.

He said: "There was a lot of public sort of milling about.

"We cleared everyone. We ascertained that he (Mr Kearney) was effectively dead. There was no cardiac output."

Mr Lithgoe said "advanced life support" took place in the street for 20 minutes.

Mr Ewing: "It was unsuccessful?"

The witness: "Unsuccessful, yes."

McClinton, also of East Kilbride, further faces a charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice.

He denies the allegations.

 

The trial, before judge Lord Armstrong, continues.