Wife death tragedy motorist faces jail

Jan 9 2008 by Graeme Whitfield, The Journal

A MOTORIST is facing jail after killing his wife when he made a sudden U-turn into oncoming traffic.

Charles Lawrence had pulled into a lay-by with his wife Zoe, their three young children with them in their Vauxhall Corsa, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

But Lawrence, who later told police he and his wife had been arguing, “quickly and suddenly” pulled out and without indicating, made a U-turn in the road, the court was told. He miscalculated the distance he had to turn round in, hitting the kerb on the other side of the road before crashing into a Citroen Saxo. Mrs Lawrence, 25, died at the scene. Her husband and their children – Bradley, five, Ellie, four, and Beth, two – escaped with minor injuries.

The crash happened on the A197 between Pegswood and Ashington in Northumberland on February 4 last year.

Lawrence, 27, of Red House Farm Estate, Bedlington, had denied causing death by dangerous driving but admitted the offence yesterday when he was due to stand trial. Prosecutor Tim Parkin said there was no complaint about Lawrence’s driving prior to his parking in the lay-by.

Sentence was adjourned until the week of January 28 for reports and he was further remanded on bail.

Judge Beatrice Bolton said it was a tragic case and she accepted the offence was the result of a “momentary lapse”.

She said: “There is the stop in a lay-by. He was later to tell the police he and his wife were arguing – not over anything incredibly serious but more about her learning to drive. What seems to have happened is that having parked in the lay-by he then quickly and suddenly pulls out and in effect does a U-turn in the face of the oncoming car.

“This was a momentary lapse which resulted in this piece of driving.

“It doesn’t have the aggravating features one finds so commonly in these cases and the great tragedy of it all is his wife – the mother of his three children – was killed and it would appear instantly.

“It must be a courageous thing for a man to admit before court responsibility for killing his own wife.”

The judge told Lawrence: “I am sure you have been told the usual sentence for an offence of this nature is immediate custody. You mustn’t take the fact I have admitted you to bail as an indication I have made up my mind about sentence.” Judge Bolton extended the court’s condolences to the victim’s grieving family, who were present at the hearing but who declined to comment afterwards. She also praised them for the dignity they had shown.

Lawrence refused to comment after the court hearing.