Motorcyclist set to stand trial over Bronte’s death

Twenty-eight-year-old Bret Simpson had offered to plead guilty to a charge of causing the woman’s death by careless driving.

But the High Court in Glasgow was told this plea was not acceptable to the Crown.

Simpson now faces a trial of causing the death of 23-year-old Bronte Hutchison by dangerous driving on the A6091 road at the Tweedbank roundabout during the early hours of August 5, 2018.

The trial is expected to last five days, but no date can be set at the moment because of the Covid-19 crisis.

It is alleged Simpson rode the motorbike at excessive speed, allowed Ms Hutchison to ride pillion while she was under the influence of alcohol and drugs, failed to slow down approaching the roundabout and then braked sharply losing control of the bike.

Ms Hutchison was thrown from the bike and struck her head on the kerb and died at the scene.

Defence counsel Edith Forrest said he would plead guilty to causing death by careless driving.

But prosecutor Shirley McKenna refused to accept the reduced plea and added that the Crown was ready for trial.

The preliminary hearing was continued until September 24.

Ms Hutchison was a production operator at a factory in her home town of Jedburgh.