Driver in deaths race gets 3 years.

Byline: GORDON McILWRAITH

A JUDGE yesterday launched a blistering attack on boy racers as she jailed a double death driver for three years.

Derek Murphy, 25, was involved in a 126mph motorway race when the other souped-up car rolled over and burst into flames.

Driver John Henderson, 26, of Kilsyth, Stirlingshire, and passenger, Mark Hughes, 24, of Blantyre, Lanarkshire, were burned beyond recognition in the M74 tragedy near Glasgow.

At Edinburgh's High Court, Lady Smith described powerful vehicles as "lethal weapons" and told Murphy the victims' families would regard it as a "cruel lottery" he still had a life to lead.

She told car salesman Murphy: "The extent to which human life is lost and is blighted by cars being driven in a way that contravenes the law gives rise to legitimate public concern."

After the sentence, police had to restrain Mark's father Robert Hughes. His wife, Emily, screamed at Murphy: "It is your turn to suffer."

Murphy, of Glasgow Road, East Kilbride, Lanarkshire, admitted racing, driving dangerously and causing the deaths on October 15, 2000.

Tom Ross, defending, said: "He has displayed remorse and contrition."