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| Family death crash father guilty | Family death crash father guilty |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| A father has been found guilty of causing the deaths of four of his children by dangerous driving. | A father has been found guilty of causing the deaths of four of his children by dangerous driving. |
| Nigel Gresham, 37, of Chapel Hill, Lincolnshire, was driving his modified Land Rover when it plunged into the River Witham, in September last year. | Nigel Gresham, 37, of Chapel Hill, Lincolnshire, was driving his modified Land Rover when it plunged into the River Witham, in September last year. |
| Willow, two, Angel, four, Thor, six, and Keavy, eight, died in the river. | Willow, two, Angel, four, Thor, six, and Keavy, eight, died in the river. |
| Lincoln Crown Court heard Gresham, who denied the charges, had been driving too fast and the vehicle was not roadworthy. He will be sentenced later. | Lincoln Crown Court heard Gresham, who denied the charges, had been driving too fast and the vehicle was not roadworthy. He will be sentenced later. |
| Gresham stood with head bowed and a number of people wept in the public gallery as the jury delivered its verdict. | Gresham stood with head bowed and a number of people wept in the public gallery as the jury delivered its verdict. |
| Judge Michael Heath told the defendant he would adjourn the case until 23 January for reports. | Judge Michael Heath told the defendant he would adjourn the case until 23 January for reports. |
| It doesn't matter how angry I am, it won't bring my babies back. Sara Bolland, the children's mother The court had earlier been told Gresham's Land Rover had several "ill-judged" modifications aimed at improving its off-road performance and that repairs to it were also "incompetent". | |
| The car was estimated to have been travelling at between 50mph and 60mph (80km/h and 96km/h) when the incident happened. | The car was estimated to have been travelling at between 50mph and 60mph (80km/h and 96km/h) when the incident happened. |
| The jury was told that moments before the crash, Gresham pulled over to allow another vehicle coming in the opposite direction to pass. | The jury was told that moments before the crash, Gresham pulled over to allow another vehicle coming in the opposite direction to pass. |
| But as it mounted the verge, a bracket close to the rear axle snapped and the Land Rover turned on its side, rolling down the bank and into the water. | But as it mounted the verge, a bracket close to the rear axle snapped and the Land Rover turned on its side, rolling down the bank and into the water. |
| Gresham, his partner Sara Bolland, 31, and their three eldest children survived. | Gresham, his partner Sara Bolland, 31, and their three eldest children survived. |
| Two weeks before the crash, Gresham was forced to stop while driving the vehicle on an off-road course in Manby, Lincolnshire, because part of its under-carriage broke, the court heard. | |
| Timothy Spencer QC, for the prosecution, said the deaths were "an avoidable tragedy". | Timothy Spencer QC, for the prosecution, said the deaths were "an avoidable tragedy". |
| "He must have known, despite what he said to police, that this was a defective vehicle. | "He must have known, despite what he said to police, that this was a defective vehicle. |
| "He must have known it was in a dangerous condition and it should not have been on the road in the state it was in," he said. | "He must have known it was in a dangerous condition and it should not have been on the road in the state it was in," he said. |
| 'Powerful message' | |
| But the defence said the vehicle had passed an MOT test earlier in the year and denied the vehicle had been travelling as fast as claimed by the prosecution. | But the defence said the vehicle had passed an MOT test earlier in the year and denied the vehicle had been travelling as fast as claimed by the prosecution. |
| Giving evidence, Gresham said he blamed the oncoming driver and he told the court he had fought to save his children, saying: "I did everything I could for them". | Giving evidence, Gresham said he blamed the oncoming driver and he told the court he had fought to save his children, saying: "I did everything I could for them". |
| Speaking outside court after the trial, Ms Bolland, said: "I don't think it matters what happened in the trial, I will never get to see or feel my sweet babies again. Nothing now will ever bring them back. | |
| "It doesn't matter how angry I am, it won't bring my babies back. Now all I ask is that we be left in peace to try to rebuild our lives to the best of our ability." | |
| The investigating officer, Sergeant Dave Kay, from Lincolnshire Police, said he hoped other motorists would heed the verdict. | The investigating officer, Sergeant Dave Kay, from Lincolnshire Police, said he hoped other motorists would heed the verdict. |
| "This is a time for no joy, no celebration, just sadness. I want to send a powerful message to all drivers in the United Kingdom about their responsibility when they get behind the wheel, including maintenance of that vehicle. | "This is a time for no joy, no celebration, just sadness. I want to send a powerful message to all drivers in the United Kingdom about their responsibility when they get behind the wheel, including maintenance of that vehicle. |
| "You have a responsibility to yourself, to your passengers, to other road users." | "You have a responsibility to yourself, to your passengers, to other road users." |