Nick Robinson successfully defends a driver charged with causing the death of a motorcyclist by careless driving
23rd July 2018
The defendant's Renault Clio had collided with a Kawasaki motorcycle ridden by 67-year-old Graham Hibbs in Victoria Road, Ferndown.
Mr Hibbs, who lived in Wimborne, was "catapulted" through the air in the collision, which happened as Miss Quartey attempted to turn right into Westwood Avenue. He suffered severe head and chest injuries and died at the scene.
Expert witnesses from both prosecution and defence teams agreed that parts of the carriageway were obscured by shadows on the day of the accident. There was also bright sunlight.
Miss Quartey, who had denied the charge, said she had seen a bus travelling towards her, but had not spotted the motorcycle.
"There was nothing ahead of the bus as far as I could tell and I thought it was safe. The bus was so far away and I thought I had time," she said.
“The only thing I can think of is that he was in the shadows. In my heart of hearts I was careful.
"Anybody in my position at that time would have done the same thing."
Yesterday morning, Judge Brian Forster QC instructed jurors that he would accept a majority verdict after three hours and three minutes of deliberations. A short time later, the jury of six men and six women delivered a not guilty verdict.
Related Articles
-
3PB are delighted to announce that crime and regulatory barrister Gemma White has been appointed by Robert Courts KC MP HM Solicitor General, to the Treasury Counsel Monitoree Scheme, for a period of 3 years from 1 April 2024. Treasury Counsel are a team of specialist advocates who prosecute many of the most serious and complex cases in the country, and advise and appear on behalf of the Law Officers and other government departments. Advocates...
Continue reading -
3PB are delighted to announce that employment barrister Matthew Curtis and criminal law barrister, Berenice Mulvanny (pictured here) have been appointed part-time Deputy District Judges - to officiate on the Western Circuit (to hear civil cases), and in the Magistrates Courts respectively. Berenice was called to the Bar in 2009. She is a specialist practitioner instructed on the most serious offences on the Western Circuit, including murder, rape and other serious sexual offences, fraud and...
Continue reading -
3PB's criminal and regulatory barrister Graham Gilbert, pictured here, successfully resisted an application by the Solicitor General, Alex Chalk KC MP, to the Court of Appeal to increase his client, convicted burglar and drug dealer Otis Tomney's two-year suspended sentence as “unduly lenient”. Otis Tomney, who was represented throughout the original burglary case and this sentence appeal by barrister Graham Gilbert, had over 120 previous offences for drug-dealing, burglary, and weapons offences. Graham was instructed...
Continue reading -
3PB Barristers’ specialist crime and regulatory barrister, Holly Fagan, secured not guilty verdicts for her client accused of engaging in coercive and controlling behaviour over a 4-year relationship, and one charge of assault by beating. Holly’s client accepted that it was a toxic and dysfunctional relationship but did not accept the criminal allegations. Holly’s detailed s28 cross-examination of the complainant highlighted the weaknesses and inconsistencies in her account. The unused material proved crucial to the...
Continue reading
