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Teenage death crash 'not guilty' Teenage death crash 'not guilty'
(10 minutes later)
An 18-year-old boy is found not guilty of dangerous driving after he crashed his car three days after pasing his test - killing four teenage friends. An 18-year-old boy is found not guilty of dangerous driving after he crashed his car three days after passing his test - killing four teenage friends.
The jury at Cardiff Crown Court did find Craig Ramshaw, of Ebbw Vale, guilty of careless driving.The jury at Cardiff Crown Court did find Craig Ramshaw, of Ebbw Vale, guilty of careless driving.
His trial heard how he was driving on a mountain road in Powys, in November 2006 when he lost control. The court had heard how Mr Ramshaw was driving on a mountain road in Powys, in November 2006, when he lost control.
Back seat passengers Danielle Caswell and Katie Roberts, both 15, and Louise Jones and Kayleigh Parry, 16, all died.Back seat passengers Danielle Caswell and Katie Roberts, both 15, and Louise Jones and Kayleigh Parry, 16, all died.
Mr Ramshaw denied causing the girls' deaths by dangerous driving. Mr Ramshaw, apprentice plumber, had always denied causing the girls' deaths by dangerous driving.
In his summing up on Tuesday morning, Judge Nicholas Cooke QC told the jury of eight women and four men: "No case can have a sadder context than this one. The six-day trial heard evidence that three days after passing his driving test, the teenager was driving along a mountain road when he lost control and the car flipped over.
Lost control
"You must completely put aside sympathy on the one hand for the terrible loss four families have suffered, and the nightmare this trial must be for the defendant and his family."
But he said the decision was whether Mr Ramshaw's driving had been careless or dangerous and they must judge it entirely on the facts.
The crash happened on the B4560 between Garnlydan and Llangynidr just after 2100 BST on 2 November last year.
The six-day trial has heard evidence that Mr Ramshaw lost control and the car flipped over.
The jury were taken to the spot where the girls diedThe jury were taken to the spot where the girls died
He told the court he was not driving at more than 40mph when he felt his back wheel skid.
The girls - all close friends at Glyncoed Comprehensive in Ebbw Vale - were thrown from the vehicle.The girls - all close friends at Glyncoed Comprehensive in Ebbw Vale - were thrown from the vehicle.
They were not wearing seatbelts, the hearing was told, unlike Mr Ramshaw and a front seat passenger, who survived with minor injuries. They were not wearing seatbelts unlike Mr Ramshaw and a front seat passenger, who survived with minor injuries.
The prosecution claimed that Mr Ramshaw was "showing off" as he drove his mother's car at "considerable speed".The prosecution claimed that Mr Ramshaw was "showing off" as he drove his mother's car at "considerable speed".
The jury has also heard evidence from Mr Ramshaw, who said he felt "pressurised" to take the girls for a ride in the Vauxhall Corsa.The jury has also heard evidence from Mr Ramshaw, who said he felt "pressurised" to take the girls for a ride in the Vauxhall Corsa.
On Monday, jurors were asked by the defence to find Mr Ramshaw guilty on a lesser charge of careless driving.On Monday, jurors were asked by the defence to find Mr Ramshaw guilty on a lesser charge of careless driving.
Patrick Harrington QC, defending, asked the jury whether Mr Ramshaw's driving fell below the standard expected of an ordinary competent driver, in which case he said it was careless.Patrick Harrington QC, defending, asked the jury whether Mr Ramshaw's driving fell below the standard expected of an ordinary competent driver, in which case he said it was careless.
'Hell and back''Hell and back'
Or was it, he asked, "far" below that standard - in which case, it was dangerous.Or was it, he asked, "far" below that standard - in which case, it was dangerous.
He invited the jury to conclude that two days after passing his driving test, Mr Ramshaw had made a minor error - turning the wheel slightly too far on a bend - which had resulted in the deaths and had wrecked the lives of many families. He invited the jury to conclude that days after passing his driving test, Mr Ramshaw had made a minor error - turning the wheel slightly too far on a bend - which had resulted in the deaths and had wrecked the lives of many families.
Mr Ramshaw's own family, he said, had "been to hell and back".Mr Ramshaw's own family, he said, had "been to hell and back".
He said the police driver in giving evidence for the prosecution had himself conceded that a minor error could have caused the crash. He said a police driver, giving evidence for the prosecution, had himself conceded that a minor error could have caused the crash.