Man convicted of murder after van crash kills bus driver in Ayrshire

A man has been convicted of murder after deliberately driving a van into a Stagecoach bus on the A77 near Fenwick, Ayrshire, in August 2023. David Livingstone, 44, was found guilty after a trial at the High Court in Glasgow. The crash killed bus driver Gordon Stirling and a 23-year-old passenger and left two others injured.

Judge Lord Mulholland told Livingstone that while it was tragic he wanted to take his own life, it was "the most selfish" killing he had encountered in his 40-year career. He added that Livingstone would pay a heavy price for the act. Livingstone, who appeared in court in a wheelchair, faced the charge after the jury accepted the prosecution account that the attack was deliberate. The case unfolded against the backdrop of Livingstone’s personal crisis, including the breakup of a long-term relationship. The bus driver, Gordon Stirling, died in hospital, and a 23-year-old passenger also lost their life; two other passengers were injured in the crash.

The verdict came as Stirling’s family watched from the public gallery. They had brought his ashes in an urn inside a rucksack to mark the man they described as someone who loved his job and the people he transported. The trial heard that Livingstone had been working at a Millport construction site on the day of the murder and had been returning home to Stewarton, Ayrshire, when the fatal act occurred. Approximately 10 minutes before the collision, Livingstone is said to have exchanged affectionate messages with his son and his eldest daughter, Devlin and Jada Hanvey, telling them he loved them.

During the proceedings, Livingstone denied having memory of the events and contended that he did not intend to take his own life. He and his attorneys argued that memory gaps and the aftermath of the breakup may have affected his actions. The court also heard that after the crash Livingstone was treated in hospital for multiple broken bones and was visited by his ex-partner and her mother. It was there that he reportedly admitted that he had deliberately driven the van into the bus and cautioned them not to tell anyone, saying he would get into trouble. In testimony, Livingstone denied the memory claim and said he could not recall the journey after leaving the Millport ferry.

The jury’s decision also reflected the broader context of the day’s events. The breakup, which had occurred days earlier, was described as a destabilizing moment for Livingstone. His son Devlin testified that his father appeared to be coping after the split but that the emotional shock left him vulnerable in the hours leading up to the crash. The court heard that Livingstone had previously served time for drug trafficking, a detail that the judge did not use to measure intent but which formed part of the defendant’s life history reviewed during sentencing.

The court has deferred sentencing until 29 October in Stirling. Prosecutors indicated they would pursue a term appropriate to murder, while defense counsel prepared further submissions related to Livingstone’s state of mind and the circumstances surrounding the incident. The decision to defer allows for any additional background material, including medical reports and personal history, to be considered before the sentence is imposed. The case highlights the intimate harm of violence directed at public transportation, as well as the lasting impact on families and communities across Ayrshire and beyond.

As the legal process moves toward sentencing, authorities emphasized that the investigation and trial methods reflected a careful and measured approach to a complex and tragic incident. The court’s findings rest on eyewitness testimony, forensic analysis, and the testimonies of those connected to Livingstone and Stirling. The public and the families affected will be watching closely as the legal process continues to unfold, seeking accountability and, in the memory of those lost, a sense of closure.