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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Texting crash motorist convicted | |
| (29 minutes later) | |
| A motorist has been found guilty of killing another driver after using her mobile phone to send and receive more than 20 text messages. | A motorist has been found guilty of killing another driver after using her mobile phone to send and receive more than 20 text messages. |
| Phillipa Curtis, 21, from Suffolk, crashed into a stationary car on the A40 near Wheatley, Oxfordshire. | Phillipa Curtis, 21, from Suffolk, crashed into a stationary car on the A40 near Wheatley, Oxfordshire. |
| Curtis wept as she was convicted of causing death by dangerous driving. | Curtis wept as she was convicted of causing death by dangerous driving. |
| After the unanimous verdict was read out at Oxford Crown Court, Curtis was told by the judge she would "almost certainly" receive a prison sentence. | After the unanimous verdict was read out at Oxford Crown Court, Curtis was told by the judge she would "almost certainly" receive a prison sentence. |
| During the trial Curtis, a waitress, had told the court she had been "hyper" as she set off on her two-hour journey to Oxford on 20 November last year. | During the trial Curtis, a waitress, had told the court she had been "hyper" as she set off on her two-hour journey to Oxford on 20 November last year. |
| She made various calls and sent text messages to a number of friends using predictive text on her flip-top phone. | She made various calls and sent text messages to a number of friends using predictive text on her flip-top phone. |
| Burst tyre | Burst tyre |
| Shortly after making a call, her car hit Victoria McBryde's parked car at 70mph (113km/h), then spun into oncoming traffic, hitting two more vehicles. | Shortly after making a call, her car hit Victoria McBryde's parked car at 70mph (113km/h), then spun into oncoming traffic, hitting two more vehicles. |
| Ms McBryde, 24, from Northamptonshire, who had stopped to deal with a burst tyre, suffered a fatal brain injury in the crash. | Ms McBryde, 24, from Northamptonshire, who had stopped to deal with a burst tyre, suffered a fatal brain injury in the crash. |
| For the sake of looking at a text message, that simple glance has taken my beautiful daughter away Victoria McBryde's mother | |
| Curtis, who injured her arm in the crash, had told Oxford Crown Court she had felt there were times when using a phone while driving was acceptable. | Curtis, who injured her arm in the crash, had told Oxford Crown Court she had felt there were times when using a phone while driving was acceptable. |
| She told the court: "I didn't think I should be chatting away when manoeuvring roundabouts, but in the right conditions..." | She told the court: "I didn't think I should be chatting away when manoeuvring roundabouts, but in the right conditions..." |
| Prosecutor Alan Blake replied: "In the right conditions on the A40 at 70mph?" | Prosecutor Alan Blake replied: "In the right conditions on the A40 at 70mph?" |
| She added: "I probably would have slowed down." | |
| Curtis wept while giving evidence and expressed regret for what had happened. | Curtis wept while giving evidence and expressed regret for what had happened. |
| She told the court: "I can't really describe in words how bad I actually feel. | She told the court: "I can't really describe in words how bad I actually feel. |
| "I just feel awful that I was involved and I can't really imagine how the family must feel." | "I just feel awful that I was involved and I can't really imagine how the family must feel." |
| Ms McBryde was known as Tory by her friends and family. | Ms McBryde was known as Tory by her friends and family. |
| 'Horrid case' | 'Horrid case' |
| Her mother said in a statement after the court case: "Although my heart has shattered since Tory's death, receiving this guilty verdict means my process of grief can now begin. | Her mother said in a statement after the court case: "Although my heart has shattered since Tory's death, receiving this guilty verdict means my process of grief can now begin. |
| "For the sake of looking at a text message, that simple glance has taken my beautiful daughter away. | "For the sake of looking at a text message, that simple glance has taken my beautiful daughter away. |
| "I would like to take this opportunity to beg people to never answer their phone when driving." | "I would like to take this opportunity to beg people to never answer their phone when driving." |
| After the guilty verdict was returned on Friday afternoon, Judge Julian Hall told Curtis: "In granting you bail, I don't give you any promise at all about what the sentence will be. | After the guilty verdict was returned on Friday afternoon, Judge Julian Hall told Curtis: "In granting you bail, I don't give you any promise at all about what the sentence will be. |
| "It will almost certainly be a sentence in prison." | "It will almost certainly be a sentence in prison." |
| Judge Hall thanked the jury, saying it had been "a horrid case" to try. | Judge Hall thanked the jury, saying it had been "a horrid case" to try. |
| Curtis will be sentenced in January. | Curtis will be sentenced in January. |