THE trial of a man accused of causing the death of a father in a road crash is set to begin next week.

Shane Stanfield, 33, of Waltham Abbey, died when the motorbike he was driving collided with a VW van on Epping New Road, at the junction with Woodford Green High Road, on Monday October 20 2008.

Mr Stanfield was just weeks away from celebrating the first birthday of his baby son Ronnie when he was killed.

Carl Lander, of Toot Hill, Ongar, will appear at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Monday (February 1) to face trial on a charge of causing death by careless driving.