Man denies causing the death of army reservist in Mid Wales crash

Rhys Davies, 27, of Parc Hafod, Tregynon, near Newtown, appeared in the dock at Mold Crown Court yesterday.

He denied causing death of Matthew Bennett by driving dangerously on the A470 at Caersws on October 8 last year.

A second man, Joshua Taylor, 27, of Ty Gwyn Road in Caersws, pleaded not guilty to a charge of intending to pervert the course of justice by allegedly making a false statement about the crash to the police.

Judge Rhys Rowlands rebailed both pending a trial, which is estimated to last five days, on February 12 next year.

Mr Bennett, from Llanidloes, was airlifted to the Royal Stoke University Hospital after suffering serious injuries in the road crash, but later died in hospital.

At the time Matthew's father Paul Bennett paid tribute to his son, who he said was known by his friends and family "as a gentle giant for his caring nature".

The 19-year-old was a member of the Army Reserves in Aberystwyth, and also worked at Colomer Munmany Europe, a tannery in Carno.

At the age of 11 he joined the Llanidloes Army Cadets, and progressed when he was 17 years old to join the Royal Welsh Guards at Catterick.

His family said Matthew enjoyed mountain biking, visiting the gym, socialising and was a member of Llanidloes Rugby Club and that he also loved his car.