CHINGFORD / LOUGHTON: Road death accused says foot slipped from brakes (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

CHINGFORD / LOUGHTON: Road death accused says foot slipped from brakes

3:31pm Thursday 2nd February 2012 in News By Daniel Binns

A MOTORIST accused of killing a pensioner on a zebra crossing said the tragedy happened after his foot slipped from the brake pedal.

Kevin Camp, 47, told Snaresbrook Crown Court today that the error caused his car to slowly roll a short distance towards Rosalie Barnard, 66, as she crossed Station Road in Chingford back in June 2010.

Witnesses described seeing Mrs Barnard, a mother-of-two and grandmother, fall awkwardly when the vehicle came up to her.

She died of her injuries five days later.

Mr Camp, of Ibbetson Path in Loughton, denied causing death by careless driving and said he had stopped to allow Mrs Barnard to pass before his vehicle accidentally went onto the crossing.

Chris Gillespie, for the defence, said the prosecution had failed to prove that the car had actually hit Mrs Barnard and that she may even have slipped over by herself.

Some witnesses and Mr Camp said the car came to a stop right in front of Mrs Barnard but it was difficult to tell whether any contact was made.

The court heard that police failed to inspect Mr Camp's car following the collision.

Mr Camp estimated he had been travelling at around one or two miles an hour prior to the crash due to heavy congestion.

But prosecutor Deanna Heer accused him of failing to pay proper attention.

She said: "He was careless. Nothing more, nothing less. He took insufficient care."

She cited an autistic witness, who said his condition meant he often closely studied facial expressions, who claimed that Mr Camp "seemed to have an absent look on his face or had something else on his mind" just before it happened.

But Mr Gillespie said the testimony was unreliable as the witness had never seen or met Mr Camp before.

He added: "[Mr Camp] was driving slowly at all times. There's no suggestion that he was in any sort of hurry or that he was revving his engine."

He said Mr Camp's foot slip was not a criminal act.

Taking to the stand, a tearful Mr Camp admitted he lost control of his car for a “split second” but immediately put his foot back on the brake and applied the handbrake.

He said: “I saw her in front of the car and she turned to face me and [then] fell back.

“I don't think I did [hit her] but I can't be sure.”

The trial continues.

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