LONDON (AP) — Former Olympic and world 100-meter champion Linford Christie has been banned from the road for 15 months and fined $8,000 after being found guilty of careless driving.
Christie crashed head-on into a taxi carrying a newlywed couple in May 2010 while driving the wrong way down a major road, leaving both cars crumpled.
Ben McQuire, who was defending Christie, claimed that disqualifying the 1992 Olympic champion for even for a short time would limit his ability to prepare 20 athletes for the 2012 London Games.
McQuire told the court that on the day of the crash “there were difficulties in Mr. Christie’s personal life.”
The jury delivered its verdict on Thursday following a two-day trial at Aylesbury Crown Court, north of London.
