Yahoo News Amputee guilty of killing ‘friend of 20 years’ by running her over, then throwing false leg at police
A man who ran over and killed his ‘friend of 20 years’ facing life in prison after he was found guilty of her murder.
Amputee Simon Whittle, 49, knocked down Natalie Hastings, 41, with his grey Volvo in Queensway, Hemel Hempstead, in January 2018.
CCTV footage showed Miss Hastings fleeing after seeing Whittle’s car shortly before her death and a witness told the court her killer had shouted ‘you’re dead’ at Miss Hastings just before he ran her over.
Miss Hastings was left lying on the road with serious injuries while Whittle got out of his car and used his crutches to stop people trying to help her.
She died in hospital the next day.
Whittle had been friends with Miss Hastings and her partner Paul Stanley for 20 years until two weeks before the murder after they fell out over an alleged robbery.
When questioned by detectives, Whittle removed his prosthetic leg and threw it at police before damaging the wheelchair he was given to use.
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Whittle had denied murdering Miss Hastings, instead claiming an animal ran in front of his car, forcing him to lose control of the vehicle.
He also gave differing accounts, including one where he claimed he had been struggling with his passenger.
‘Dishonest’ Whittle of Fletcher Way, Hemel Hempstead, was found guilty at Chelmsford Crown Court and will be sentenced on Friday.
