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29/05/2008
'R' Driver Guilty On Fatal Accident
A jury took just 20 minutes to return unanimous verdicts yesterday in finding a young driver guilty of fatal dangerous driving charges.
The families of two victims wept as a speeding 20-year-old 'R' driver was convicted of killing them by dangerous driving.
Mark Andrew Ellis, 20, was found guilty at Antrim Crown Court of killing Margaret Chivers, 85, and his friend, Adam Montague.
As the verdicts were announced, the families of Ellis's victims broke down in tears.
During the two-week trial, the jury heard that Ellis, from Josephine Avenue in Limavady, was uninsured.
He had been driving along the Cam Road close to Macosquin on 6 August 2006 when he lost control of the car on a "gradual" left-hand bend.
The black Peugot 206 he was driving careered into a lamp-post, breaking it in two, before ploughing head-on into a Ford Ka driven by Mrs Chivers's daughter, Ethna.
Mrs Chivers died the same day, but Mr Montague, who had been in the front passenger seat, died 10 days later.
The jury heard that, despite Ellis being a restricted driver at the time of the crash and therefore limited to a maximum speed of 45mph, he told police he had been driving at around 60mph going into the left-hand bend where he lost control.
He claimed that "something was not right" with the road and that "it may have been greasy".
However, a Crown lawyer said: "We say what wasn't right was that he was driving too hard and too fast for the driving conditions."
(BMcC/NS)
The families of two victims wept as a speeding 20-year-old 'R' driver was convicted of killing them by dangerous driving.
Mark Andrew Ellis, 20, was found guilty at Antrim Crown Court of killing Margaret Chivers, 85, and his friend, Adam Montague.
As the verdicts were announced, the families of Ellis's victims broke down in tears.
During the two-week trial, the jury heard that Ellis, from Josephine Avenue in Limavady, was uninsured.
He had been driving along the Cam Road close to Macosquin on 6 August 2006 when he lost control of the car on a "gradual" left-hand bend.
The black Peugot 206 he was driving careered into a lamp-post, breaking it in two, before ploughing head-on into a Ford Ka driven by Mrs Chivers's daughter, Ethna.
Mrs Chivers died the same day, but Mr Montague, who had been in the front passenger seat, died 10 days later.
The jury heard that, despite Ellis being a restricted driver at the time of the crash and therefore limited to a maximum speed of 45mph, he told police he had been driving at around 60mph going into the left-hand bend where he lost control.
He claimed that "something was not right" with the road and that "it may have been greasy".
However, a Crown lawyer said: "We say what wasn't right was that he was driving too hard and too fast for the driving conditions."
(BMcC/NS)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A showery start with outbreaks most frequent north of Lough Neagh and through the morning, before dwindling during the afternoon as the northwest breezes ease and brighter spells of weak sunshine prosper. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A dry night, save for a few light showers around the coasts, with prolonged clear spells and light winds bringing a frosty dawn for many in central and southern parts. Minimum temperature -3 °C.
