Drunk driver Valdis Labeckis admits dangerous driving caused death of Paul Carwithen in Maidstone
Paul Carwithen was killed
in a crash on New Year's Day
by Keith Hunt
A drunk driver is facing jail after admitting causing the death
by dangerous driving of a pedestrian in Maidstone in the early
hours of New Year's Day.
Latvian Valdis Labeckis, of Old Tovil Road, Maidstone, was at
the wheel of a BMW 320 car that killed Paul Carwithen and seriously
injured Maria-Louise Cook.
Mr Carwithen, of Linley Close, Maidstone, and Miss Cook had been
to London for New Year's Eve and were walking to a friend's house
in the early hours when they were struck at the lower end of
Postley Road and Old Tovil Road.
Mr Carwithen, 34, who worked with Miss Cook at Morrisons
supermarket in Sutton Road, went through the windscreen of the car
and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Miss Cook, 29, was taken to King's College Hospital in
London.
Maria-Louise Cook was
seriously injured in the crash in Maidstone
The BMW, which also struck two stationary vehicles, was owned by
Ugis Luksa. Monta Kovisade was a front seat passenger and Linda
Rubine was in the back seat.
Labeckis, a 21-year-old factory worker, entered his guilty plea
through an interpreter at Maidstone Crown Court today.
Charlotte Newell, defending, said Labeckis wanted to be
sentenced immediately, but prosecutor Stephen Clayton was granted
an adjournment until Friday March 15 so further important
evidence could be obtained.
Mr Clayton said it would also allow members of Mr Carwithen's
family to travel from Devon to attend the sentencing hearing.
Miss Cook sat in court in a wheelchair. Friends of her and Mr
Carwithen packed the public gallery.
The scene of the
fatal collision in Old Tovil Road, Maidstone
Remanding Labeckis in custody, Judge Philip Statman told him:
"You have had the good sense to plead guilty. That will be
something that will be reflected in your sentence.
"You must appreciate you face an immediate custodial
sentence."
08/03/13
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