Southampton man denies causing death of pensioner in Weymouth

Edgaras Kondratas, 40, is charged with causing death by driving without due care and consideration while over the specified limit for a cannabis, a controlled drug.

He denies the charge and is on trial at Winchester Crown Court.

A jury heard it relates to an incident on Wooland Gardens in Wyke Regis on May 2, 2023, that resulted in the death of Sylvia Bentley, a 94-year old woman who lived in the area.

The prosecutor said Kondratas, who is Lithuanian, had been up since around 5am that day driving a Mercedes Sprinter van alongside a colleague, collecting bags of clothes donated to charity.

He had dropped his colleague off in the area to collect bags on foot, whilst he drove further down Wooland Gardens.

The jury heard he reversed the van up onto the pavement, and left the engine running whilst he went to collect a bag.

The prosecutor said when Kondratas returned to the van he reversed, striking Mrs Bentley in the back and knocking her over, before driving forward, running her over again. This was at about 12.48pm.

The prosecutor said: "Her death was completely avoidable. 

"As he reversed he struck her as she was walking away. He knocked her down. He didn't know what he had done, and I don't suggest that he meant any harm.

"She never saw it coming. She probably never heard it coming. 

"Having reversed back and striking her he realised that something was wrong. Instead of getting out to look he drove forward, and as he drove forward he ran over her as she lay on the pavement. 

"She suffered catastrophic head injuries. It is a terribly tragic scene.

"The defendant goes out to the rear and is immediately confronted with the result of what has just happened.

"He immediately, as with anybody else that came upon the scene, realised that this person on the road was dead and there was no possibility of resuscitative treatment or care."

Police at Wooland Gardens (Image: Submitted)

The jury heard that Kondratas, of Peartree Close, Southampton, had checked his mirrors, though there was no rear mirror as the van has no rear window.

However, it does have three cameras, one of which points towards a rear blind spot. The view from these cameras is shown on a screen inside the van and will be shown to the jury as part of the trial.

The van did have reversing sensors, but they were not working.

The prosecutor added: "He was in something of a hurry when he got out of the van. He sees her, and recognises she is there.

"She has in her left hand a walking stick, and she moves slowly.

"He did not check the cameras to check it was clear behind him. His explanation to the police was that it was uncomfortable to do so.

"That is a complete non-starter. Even if it was (uncomfortable), that is no excuse.

"All he had to do was look at the screen and he would see that Sylvia Bentley was there walking up towards her home.

"But he never looked, never.

"This lady should never have died this day. Her death is his responsibility."

At the police station, Kondratas tested over the driving limit for cannabis, and admitted to police he had used it the previous day.

The trial continues.