Jury out on death-drive case (From Witney Gazette)

Jury out on death-drive case

11:00am Tuesday 15th May 2012 in News

JURORS will continue their deliberations this morning in the case of a motorist accused of causing death by careless driving.

Jonathan Bridger, 20, has been on trial at Oxford Crown Court charged with causing a crash that killed a motorcyclist.

Christopher Mason, 59, was killed on the B4100 north of Bicester, near Stoke Lyne, on May 30 last year.

The Yamaha rider, of Mulberry Drive, Bicester, was involved in a collision with Bridger’s Toyota Yaris.

The prosecution contends Bridger, of Shortlands Close in Helmdon, Northants, was going too fast for the wet conditions.

The defendant denies speeding on the 50mph stretch and jurors have been told the road surface was below accepted standards but was not deemed a safety risk by the county council.

The six men and six women of the jury yesterday heard closing speeches from prosecutor Roger Coventry and defence barrister David Bright.

Judge Gordon Risius then summed up the evidence from the four-day hearing.

The jury had deliberated for an hour and 25 minutes before being sent home for the day shortly after 4pm.

They will return to court to resume deliberations this morning.