CHINGFORD / LOUGHTON: Motorist cleared of killing gran (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

CHINGFORD / LOUGHTON: Motorist cleared of killing gran

5:15pm Friday 3rd February 2012 in Your Local Areas By Daniel Binns

A MOTORIST has been cleared of killing a grandmother on a zebra crossing.

Kevin Camp, 47, was today found not guilty of causing the death by careless driving of Rosalie Barnard, 66, in Station Road, Chingford, back in June 2010.

Jurors heard how Mr Camp's car had stopped but then slowly rolled a short distance onto the crossing just as Mrs Barnard was walking along it.

It came to a stop in front of her and she fell awkwardly.

She died of her injuries five days later.

Mr Camp, of Ibbetson Path in Loughton, admitted losing control of his vehicle, saying his foot slipped from the brake pedal, but denied prosecution claims that he was not paying proper attention.

The court heard that police failed to inspect the car following the incident, and the defence said it could not be proved that the car actually made contact.

It was suggested that Mrs Barnard may have slipped by herself, but Mr Camp agreed with the prosecution that the most "logical" explanation was she fell because of his car's movement.

Chris Gillespie, for the defence, said Mr Camp was driving slowly and correctly and that he should not be held criminally responsible for the "split-second" accident.

Taking to the stand, a tearful Mr Camp said he immediately applied the brakes again when his foot slipped and felt "terrible" about what had happened.

Much-loved Mrs Barnard, a mother-of-two with numerous grandchildren, was on a shopping trip at the time of the tragedy.

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