AN uninsured driver who had not passed his test “deliberately swerved” a 4x4 at a deaf man in a supermarket car park and killed him, a jury heard.
Timothy Higgins, aged 22, formerly of The Glade, Wyllie, Blackwood, is accused of the manslaughter of Christopher Gadd after the pair rowed at Sainsbury’s in Pontllanfraith.
Prosecutor Owen Williams told Cardiff Crown Court the 48-year-old died at the hands of the defendant who was at the wheel of a Land Rover Freelander and who held a provisional driving licence.
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He said an “altercation” occurred after Higgins was blocked in a parking space by Paul Gadd, the dead man’s brother who was driving a silver Volkswagen Passat while Christopher Gadd was a passenger on March 4.
Mr Williams said: “Timothy Higgins was unable to reverse out of his space because Paul Gadd had positioned his vehicle in a way that was blocking him.”
Christopher Gadd got out of the Passat.
Mr Williams said: “It is the prosecution’s case that the defendant deliberately swerved his vehicle to the right in order to drive at Christopher Gadd.
“Mr Gadd fell back and suffered significant and fatal head injuries.
“Despite the best efforts of members of the public, supermarket staff and paramedics, he lost his life. At 4.38pm, he was pronounced dead.”
The court was told that Christopher Gadd had never worked because meningitis when young had left him deaf.
Paul Lewis QC, defending Higgins, cross-examined prosecution witness Paul Gadd.
The court heard he was one of four brothers and Christopher Gadd had died the day after his 48th birthday.
A post-mortem showed Christopher Gadd was three times the drink-drive limit around the time of his death.”
Higgins has pleaded not guilty to manslaughter and denies causing the death of Mr Gadd while driving without insurance and otherwise than in accordance with a licence.
Proceeding.
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