23-05-2025
Man denies causing death of baby in 'tragic incident' at car park
A MAN has denied causing the death of a six-month-old baby in Tenby's multi-storey car park.
Flaviu Naghi, 34, of Irvine Street in Leigh, is accused of killing Sophia Kelemen following an incident on the afternoon of January 2.
Sophia was rushed to hospital, but she died of her injuries the following day.
Naghi was charged with causing death by dangerous driving, as well as an alternative offence of causing death by careless driving when unfit through drugs.
He pleaded not guilty to each charge.
Baby Sophia died from her injuries after an incident at the multi-storey car park in Tenby. (Image: Gareth Davies Photography)
At a previous hearing, defence counsel Dean Pulling, said: 'The primary issue here is whether this defendant can be said to have been driving the car at that material time.'
Mr Pulling said that Naghi opened the car and turned on the engine to warm the vehicle up, however the handbrake had been left off and the car moved forward. He said Naghi had not got into the car.
'The most he can be seen to have done is put the key in the ignition and turn it on,' he said.
'At no time was Mr Naghi driving the car.'
Six-month-old Sophia Kelemen died of her injuries the day after the incident. (Image: Dyfed-Powys Police)
Mr Pulling said that nothing he said during that hearing was intended to detract from the loss that Sophia's family had suffered.
'The defence recognise this was a terrible, terrible accident,' he said.
A provisional trial date has been set for June 2, and this was confirmed following the defendant's not guilty pleas.
Following Naghi being charged, a Dyfed-Powys Police spokesperson said: 'This is a tragic incident and is a live investigation. We ask that you do not speculate the circumstances.'
