Driver cleared of dangerous driving

A Shropshire lorry driver has been cleared of causing the deaths of a Mid Wales couple by dangerous driving.

Jurors took 30 minutes today to find 48-year-old Hungarian national Istvan Kotorman not guilty of causing the deaths of Welshpool couple Kenneth and Daisy Davies by dangerous driving.

However, Kotorman, of Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury, had already admitted the lesser charge of causing the deaths by careless driving of 77-year-old Mr Davies and his 79-year-old wife.

The couple died from their injuries suffered in a crash near Llandrinio in Mid Wales on April 8.

Judge John Rogers QC, sitting at Mold Crown Court, today adjourned sentencing until September 18 to allow pre-sentence reports to be prepared.

He warned Kotorman, who was released on conditional bail, that a custodial sentence was "likely".

Following the verdict, Constable Suzanne Duncan of Dyfed-Powys police said: "The family are unhappy about the verdict but are too distressed to speak at the moment."

Earlier today while summing up the case, the judge said: "From any viewpoint this is a very sad case. Mr and Mrs Davies lost their lives. They were entirely blameless. It's very sad for them and for their family."

The judge said the case had also been very sad for Kotorman, an HGV lorry driver for almost 30 years with no previous convictions.

The judge said Kotorman, who had come to the UK in 2006 for a better life, accepted he would have to live with what happened for the rest of his life.

During the trial, Kotorman, who had followed court proceedings with the help of an interpreter, was asked how he felt about being responsible for the deaths.

Speaking in English the 48-year-old said: "I feel very sad and very sorry at what happened. I have to cope with it all my life, it is the biggest punishment."

The court was told Kotorman was driving a tipper truck and travelling towards Criggion Quarry when he turned into the path of the Davies's Rover 214 as he took a right turn on the B4393 near Llandrinio.

He said he did not see the Davies's car and was only aware of it when the collision happened.