A teenage motorist who mowed down and killed an el

A teenage motorist who mowed down and killed an eleven-year-old was fined pnds stlg 1000 at the Old Bailey today.

(Fri)

Tragic Billy Convoy was thrown into the air as he tried to cross Hedgeman’s Road, Dagenham, close to his home.

The schoolboy was struck by 19-year-old Ronald Powell’s Rover as he motored through residential streets with two of his pals on August 14 last year.

Witnesses saw a blue Transit van parked at the Talbot Road junction which was ‘obscuring’ the young boy’s view as he tried to cross the road to get home.

‘Billy walked into the west-bound carriageway and was struck by the defendant’s green Rover saloon,’ said Timothy Probert-Wood, prosecuting.

‘Witnesses heard a screech of brakes and Billy was knocked high into the air and thrown to the kerb.

‘The defendant, who was carrying three passengers, stopped immediately where the boy was unconscious and clearly badly injured.

‘He was taken to Great Ormond Street Hospital but very sadly passed away the next day.

‘The family were obviously distraught and in a state of shock.

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Powell was questioned by police at the scene where he claimed to be driving at around 30mph, the court heard.

He maintained ‘the boy just ran out into the road’ and he simply did not have a chance to avoid him.

But the Crown alleged he was driving at around 44mph in the 30mph zone, the court was told.

According to accident investigators he had braked to a speed of around 34mph at the point of collision.

Mr Probert-Wood added: ‘He was driving in excess of the speed limit in a residential area where there may be obscured dangers.

‘There may have been someone on the other side of the van, as indeed there was.

‘The defendant was unable to stop.

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But Powell, of Pettits Lane, Romford, Essex, denied he was driving as fast as the experts contended.

The jury cleared of causing death by dangerous driving on August 14 last year.

But they convicted him of the alternative charge of careless driving.

The Judge, Mr Recorder Vivian Robinson, QC, fined Powell pnds stlg 1000 and disqualified him from driving for 12 months.

The judge called it a ‘very difficult and sad case’ for the jury to try.

Sentencing Powell he said: ‘This matter will no doubt remain with you for the rest of your life as will the anguish which I am sure you do feel as a result of your driving having caused this boy’s tragic death.

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