Tenby baby car park death accused trial pushed back

Western Telegraph

2 days ago

Flaviu Naghi, 33, of Irvine Street in Leigh, is accused of causing the death of Sophia Kelemen in Tenby's multi-storey car park.
Sophia was rushed to hospital after the incident on the afternoon of January 2, but she died of her injuries the following day.
Naghi's trial was due to begin a Swansea Crown Court today, Monday, June 2.
(Image: Dyfed-Powys Police) However, his defence barrister, John Hipkin KC, asked for the trial to be adjourned.
He said that fresh evidence had emerged only last Thursday to the extent that the handbrake had been applied on the vehicle.
Because of this, he said, the defence would need to commission an independent expert report to examine the effect on the vehicle of the handbrake not being applied to its maximum.
This adjournment was opposed by prosecutor Tom Crowther KC.
(Image: Dyfed-Powys Police)
However, Judge Her Honour Catherine Richards KC allowed the adjournment.
'I am not prepared to say that an expert report is unnecessary,' she said. 'I am prepared t accept that if counsel require a report they should be given the opportunity to obtain that report.
Jude Richards said that the delay was 'regrettable to say the least' but that the process must be 'beyond reproach'.
The trial was adjourned until January 5 next year.
(Image: Facebook)
Before this an alternative second charge was put to Naghi; that on January 2 2025 he caused the death of Sophia Kelemen by driving a mechanically propelled vehicle on a road or public place, namely the multi storey car park at Upper Park Road Tenby without due care and attention and at a time when he had in his body a specified controlled drug, namely benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine, at a proportion in his blood of 236mg per litre, the specified limit is 50 microgrammes.
Speaking though a Romanian interpreter, Naghi pleaded not guilty to the charge.