Off-duty Pc denies causing death by driving

Jan 29 2008 by Rhodri Evans, South Wales Echo

A PRISON officer was killed when a car driven by an off-duty police officer pulled out in front of his high-speed motorbike, a court heard.

Married dad-of-three Gordon Bowyer, of Maesycwmmer, near Caerphilly, was riding to work along the A467 when his bike is claimed to have clipped a Peugeot car in front of him. Cardiff Crown Court heard Mr Bowyer, whose wife was three months pregnant, died after falling from his bike and skidding into an electrical junction box in April last year.

The Peugeot’s driver, Gwent Pc Christopher Browning, of New Inn, Pontypool, denies causing death by dangerous driving.

Prosecutor Hywel Hughes told the jury: “At around 12.15pm on Friday, April 13, Gordon Bowyer was riding his Kawasaki motorcycle from home to work. He was riding along the A467 northbound, along the stretch that runs between Newbridge and Crumlin.

“At Crumlin, Mr Bowyer was going to turn right at the traffic lights and go east towards Pontypool and then to his place of work at Usk where he was employed as a prison officer. He never made it to work because he received fatal injuries as a result of the traffic collision.

“The accident occurred outside the Shell petrol station when a Peugeot driven by the defendant pulled out into the path of the motorcycle. The motorcycle tried to take evasive action and there was minimal impact between the motorcycle and the Peugeot.

“As a result, Mr Bowyer lost control of his motorcycle and when it collided with the pavement on the nearside, he was thrown from the motorcycle.”

Mr Bowyer was taken to the Royal Gwent Hospital in Newport, but he never regained consciousness.

Robert George told the court he was driving behind Mr Bowyer when the accident happened. He said he was travelling at 60mph when he was overtaken by Mr Bowyer’s Kawasaki after a set of traffic lights. He added: “I would say it (the motorbike) was in excess of 80mph.” Mr George said he saw Browning’s Peugeot car pulling out at the junction of the petrol station to travel in the same direction as the bike.

“The motorcycle immediately put its brakes on,” said Mr George. “The motorbike began to wobble....sort of speed wobbling, and the motorbike rider was trying to control the motorbike.”

When asked by Mr Hughes whether there was any contact between the bike and the Peugeot, Mr George replied: “It happened so quickly it was difficult to say.”

Natalie Ruffing was also driving along the A467 and was passed by Mr Bowyer. Under cross-examination by Tom Crowther, defending, she said she commented on the overtaking manoeuvre to her partner, Martyn Powell, who was a passenger in the car. Mr Powell told the jury Mr Bowyer’s overtaking had caused “alarm”.

(proceeding)

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