Latest news with #SophiaKelemen


BBC News
2 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Trial of man accused over Leigh baby's crash death postponed
The trial of a man accused of killing a baby girl during a crash in a car park has been postponed until next Naghi, 34, faces two charges of causing the death of six-month-old Sophia Kelemen by dangerous driving and causing death by careless driving while unfit through Sophia, from Leigh, near Wigan, died after being hit in a car park in Tenby, Wales on 2 January Catherine Richards, sitting at Swansea Crown Court, said delaying the trail was "regretful" but argued it was necessary to allow for more expert evidence to be who previously lived in Wigan, was released on bail. Naghi, now of Rondini Avenue, Luton, spoke through an interpreter to confirm his name and enter a plea during a brief hearing on judge agreed an application to adjourn the trial until 5 January, Crowther KC appeared for the prosecution while John Hipkin KC represented the the incident, Sophia was airlifted to the University Hospital of Wales and underwent emergency inquest opening at Pembrokeshire Coroner's Court in January heard Sophia died of an "intracranial haemorrhage" caused by a road traffic collision. Sophia's father Alex Keleman, 27, has said his family had been left "devastated" by her death and described his experience as being like "a horror movie".The family had taken some final holiday photographs and had packed their bags and were preparing to head home when the incident happened. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.


The Independent
3 days ago
- General
- The Independent
Trial of man accused of killing baby girl in car park crash delayed
The trial of a man accused of killing a baby girl who died after being hit by a car in a multi-storey car park has been postponed until next year. Flaviu Naghi, 34, faces two charges of causing the death of six-month-old Sophia Kelemen by dangerous driving and causing death by careless driving while unfit through drugs. Naghi, of Rondini Avenue, Luton, Bedfordshire, spoke through an interpreter to confirm his name and enter a not guilty plea to the careless driving through drugs charge during a brief hearing at Swansea Crown Court on Monday. Judge Catherine Richards agreed an application to adjourn the trial until January 5 2026, three days after the anniversary of Sophia's death. The judge said it was 'regretful' that the trial needed to be delayed, but said it was necessary to allow for more expert evidence to be gathered. Naghi was released on bail. Tom Crowther KC appeared for the prosecution while John Hipkin KC represented the defendant. Sophia, from the Leigh area of Manchester, was hit by a car on the ground floor of a multi-storey car park in Tenby, Pembrokeshire, on January 2, and died a day later in hospital. She had been airlifted to the University Hospital of Wales and undergone emergency treatment. An inquest opening at Pembrokeshire Coroner's Court in January heard Sophia died of an 'intracranial haemorrhage' caused by a road traffic collision.

Western Telegraph
4 days ago
- Western Telegraph
Tenby baby car park death accused trial pushed back
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.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Yahoo
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.'


The Independent
23-05-2025
- The Independent
Motorist denies killing baby girl in car park crash
A man has denied killing a baby girl who died after being hit by a car in a multi-storey car park. Flaviu Naghi, 34, pleaded not guilty to two charges of causing the death of six-month-old Sophia Kelemen by dangerous driving and causing death by careless driving while unfit through drugs. Naghi, of Rondini Avenue, Luton, Bedfordshire, spoke only to confirm his name and enter his pleas during a brief hearing at Swansea Crown Court. Judge Catherine Richards adjourned the case and released Naghi on conditional bail. He will next appear before the court on June 2 for his trial, which is due to last a week. Tom Crowther KC appeared for the prosecution while John Hipkin KC represented the defendant. Sophia, from the Leigh area of Manchester, was hit by a car on the ground floor of a multi-storey car park in Tenby, Pembrokeshire, on January 2, and died a day later in hospital. She had been airlifted to the University Hospital of Wales and undergone emergency treatment. An inquest opening at Pembrokeshire Coroner's Court in January heard Sophia died of an 'intracranial haemorrhage' caused by a road traffic collision.