Death investigations

M9 road traffic incident - Fatal Accident Inquiry

Crown Counsel has now formally instructed that there should be a Fatal Accident Inquiry to examine the full circumstances surrounding the deaths of Lamara Bell and John Yuill during the M9 incident.

Crown Counsel has now formally instructed that there should be a Fatal Accident Inquiry to examine the full circumstances surrounding the deaths of Lamara Bell and John Yuill after a road traffic incident on the M9 on 5 July 2015

This follows a thorough investigation and criminal prosecution against the Office of the Chief Constable of Police Scotland.

The families of Lamara Bell and John Yuill have been informed of this decision.

The Crown will continue with work in preparation of the inquiry and there are steps which must be taken before a notice can be sent to the Court to ask that proceedings be ordered.

Family members will continue to be kept fully informed of progress.

Justin Farrell, Deputy Procurator Fiscal, Specialist Casework said:

“The prosecution in this case was an important step which had to be taken before the holding of a FAI could be fully considered.

“The public interest will now be further served in a FAI to examine the full circumstances surrounding these tragic deaths and to help avoid such an incident happening again in the future.

“It is important that the Crown facilitates the process of putting all relevant information into the public domain.

“Dates for the FAI will be set by the Court in due course, and the Crown intends to initiate this process in 2022.”