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Man cleared of boy death charge | Man cleared of boy death charge |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A driver cleared of causing the death of a boy by dangerous driving has been cleared of an alternative charge. | A driver cleared of causing the death of a boy by dangerous driving has been cleared of an alternative charge. |
Darren Jenkins, 25, was driving through St Mellons, Cardiff, when his car hit Joshua Venn-Howells, who was three. | Darren Jenkins, 25, was driving through St Mellons, Cardiff, when his car hit Joshua Venn-Howells, who was three. |
Mr Jenkins, from Roath in the city, drove off after the accident although he knew he had hit something and later gave himself into police. | Mr Jenkins, from Roath in the city, drove off after the accident although he knew he had hit something and later gave himself into police. |
A jury at Cardiff Crown Court found him not guilty of driving without due care and attention. | A jury at Cardiff Crown Court found him not guilty of driving without due care and attention. |
He was cleared of the dangerous driving charge on Monday. | He was cleared of the dangerous driving charge on Monday. |
Joshua died in hospital a day after being struck while playing at Willowbrook Drive in St Mellons, Cardiff last July. | Joshua died in hospital a day after being struck while playing at Willowbrook Drive in St Mellons, Cardiff last July. |
Checking mirrors | Checking mirrors |
The prosecution claimed Mr Jenkins was speeding and did not stop after hitting Joshua, who was "clearly visible". | The prosecution claimed Mr Jenkins was speeding and did not stop after hitting Joshua, who was "clearly visible". |
The defendant said he was checking his mirrors, after spotting a car ahead which he thought may have been about to pull out, when he "felt a loud bang" on the right driver's side wheel. | The defendant said he was checking his mirrors, after spotting a car ahead which he thought may have been about to pull out, when he "felt a loud bang" on the right driver's side wheel. |
He told the court: "I thought it could have been an animal, it could have been a person." He said he "panicked" and drove on to go home. | He told the court: "I thought it could have been an animal, it could have been a person." He said he "panicked" and drove on to go home. |
His father later persuaded him to go the police within half an hour of the incident, the court heard. | His father later persuaded him to go the police within half an hour of the incident, the court heard. |
Mr Jenkins said he had felt "gutted" when he later learnt a boy had died. | Mr Jenkins said he had felt "gutted" when he later learnt a boy had died. |
Joshua was fatally injured on this section of Willowbrook Drive | Joshua was fatally injured on this section of Willowbrook Drive |
Judge Stephen Hopkins said: "Joshua's mother believes that he and other children were playing safely in a secure garden. | Judge Stephen Hopkins said: "Joshua's mother believes that he and other children were playing safely in a secure garden. |
"If his mother blames herself she should not do so as, in my opinion, it's almost impossible to be constantly aware of what children are doing. | "If his mother blames herself she should not do so as, in my opinion, it's almost impossible to be constantly aware of what children are doing. |
"I express my personal sorrow for the family." | "I express my personal sorrow for the family." |
Mr Jenkins still faces a charge of failing to stop after an accident which will be dealt with by Cardiff magistrates later. | Mr Jenkins still faces a charge of failing to stop after an accident which will be dealt with by Cardiff magistrates later. |
Joshua's mother Jodie Howells said she would campaign for better road safety to help prevent similar tragedies. | |
"We are going to keep campaigning for traffic-calming measures until something is done," she said. | |
"The road is two-and-a-half-miles long but there's nothing to slow cars down on it at all. | |
"If the road is narrowed and speed bumps are put in place it will make it much safer. | |
"At the moment, it's a death trap. I know of at least five incidents where people have been knocked down on that road in the last couple of years." | |
Three days after his death, Joshua's relatives, neighbours and friends carried out a 24-hour road block calling for traffic-calming measures. | |
Another blockade was held on Willowbrook Drive last weekend to mark the first anniversary of his death. |
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