'Twisted monster tried to frame me for friend's death'

A passenger in a fatal car crash has branded the killer driver a ‘twisted monster’ for trying to ‘frame her’.

Ellie Plenderleith, 20, hopes Kanad Basi will now be locked up after he admitted killing 16-year-old Jack Frame in the smash.

Basi, 22, who was almost twice the drink-drive limit and had taken cocaine and ecstasy, drove into a bend at speed, lost control of his BMW and crashed into a tree.

Front-seat passenger Jack suffered catastrophic head injuries and died at the scene.

In the immediate aftermath, Basi climbed into the back of the car and pushed an unconscious Ms Plenderleith into the front. She was found with her legs in the rear seating area and her head facing down into the driver’s footwell.

Basi called 999 from third passenger Aiden O’Donnell’s phone and initially admitted he was driving, but later told police he “couldn’t remember” if he was behind the wheel.

On Tuesday at the High Court in Glasgow, Basi pleaded guilty to killing Jack by dangerous driving.

Ms Plenderleith said: “Kanad moving me from the back seat to the driver seat while I was unconscious shows you what kind of person he is.

“What made things worse was that because he wasn’t charged for a long time, he was able to spread his own false version of events round our community to further the notion that he was a victim.

“This meant people believed him and they blamed me for the accident.

“I received loads of abuse – either in person or in texts – and it made it difficult for me to attend Jack’s funeral with other young people believing Kanad.

“However, Jack and Aiden’s family I think always suspected there was something wrong with Kanad’s version of events and thankfully they have always been very supportive and kind to me from the beginning.”

The crash happened on New Trows Road in Lesmahagow, Lanarkshire, on February 10 last year after the foursome left a party.

None of the passengers were wearing a seat belt. Basi, who was wearing one, suffered a broken wrist. His DNA and blood were found on the driver’s airbag.

Apprentice joiner Mr O’Donnell, then 18, suffered a fractured skull, four facial fractures, two broken legs and a number of fractures to his left arm. He had to undergo surgery and learn to walk again. He has been unable to work since the accident.

Ms Plenderleith, who was 19, had to have her right pinky finger amputated. She also suffered a broken right upper arm, lacerations to her liver, a punctured lung, broken ribs and a fractured chest bone.

It took six months for her to physically recover from her injuries; however she said she still suffers daily pain and emotional trauma.

In a statement released through law firm Digby Brown, Ms Plenderleith added: “The whole thing took a massive toll. I lived in constant anxiety and I have physical injuries that will now stay with me for the rest of my life.

“It makes me sick to think Kanad was my friend before the crash.

“I trusted him – I don’t know how he could do something so horrendous to take time and plan things and spread lies.

“I am glad people now know the truth of what happened and that twisted toxic monster will hopefully be locked up where he belongs but we should not have had to wait as long as we did for justice.”

Basi, of Pollokshields, Glasgow, was remanded in custody and will be sentenced next month.