Death crash charge dropped

A CHARGE of causing death by dangerous driving has been dropped against a Helston man on the day his trial was due to start.

The Crown Prosecution Service agreed not to proceed with the charge against Simon Powell in relation to a crash which killed Christian Vinnicombe, of Falmouth, in August last year.

Prosecutor Llewellyn Sellick told Judge Christopher Elwen at Truro Crown Court that he learned that morning that a pathologist would be not be able to state whether Mr Vinnicombe died as a result of colliding with a Cornish hedge or the Honda Civic being driven by Powell.

The trial of Powell and two other men was due to begin on Tuesday when Powell’s plea of not guilty to having caused a death by dangerous driving was accepted. Powell, 20, of Methleigh Parc, Helston, admitted dangerous driving on the A394 Penryn-Helston road just outside Edgecumbe on August 2 last year, as did 21-year-old Christian Lawrence, of Beacon Parc, Helston.

Injuries

Daryl Bowden, 22, also of Beacon Parc, Helston had pleaded guilty to dangerous driving at an earlier hearing.

Mr Vinnicombe, 22, of Penmere Crescent, known as Chan, received fatal injuries in the four-vehicle crash on the A394 at Carnebone, between Falmouth and Helston.

Judge Elwyn was highly critical of the CPS for not resolving the matter months ago.

“I expect a full explanation from the Crown prosecutor,” he said. “A seven-day trial slot has largely been wasted. The chances of getting another case at such short notice is virtually impossible.

“It gives me enormous concern, this wastage of money and public time which is laid at the door of the CPS.

“It is similarly unfortunate for the family of the deceased who have been left with this dangling over them in the most regrettable circumstances.”

Mr Sellick said he and his colleagues had spent 15 or 20 minutes with the family that morning.

Powell, defended by John Boyle, and Lawrence, with Ramsay Quaife, counsel, have been remanded on bail to await sentence early in the new year, along with Bowden, following the preparation of a probation officer’s report.