Police officer charged with death by dangerous driving in Tonbridge
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A policeman has appeared in court charged
with causing death by dangerous driving.
Metropolitan officer PC Nigel Brown is accused
of causing the death of mother-of-three Felicity Austin, 29, of The
Paddock, in Hadlow, last May.
Miss Austin died in a road accident on the A21
Pembury Road when she was involved in a head-on collision with an
unmarked police car which was involved in operational duties.
Brown, 46, appeared at Sevenoaks Magistrates
Court after an investigation by the Independent Police Complaints
Commission.
Magistrates sent the case to be heard at
Maidstone Crown Court, and a preliminary hearing has been set for
March 29.
Miss Austin, left behind her fiance Simon
Huggins and their three children, Jordan, Brandon and Kian.
After the hearing solicitor Vijay Mehan gave a
statement on behalf of Mr Huggins, 35.
He said: “Simon is pleased that this case has
finally come to court, some 10 months after his fiancée was killed
in this incident.
“As he continues to come to terms with the
death of his fiancée and as his three sons cope with the loss of
their loving and beloved mother, he is hopeful that the full facts
and truth of the circumstances surrounding this devastating
collision will emerge, hopefully providing his family with some
answers and allowing him and his children to begin the long process
of re-building their lives.
“Simon also wishes to thank the residents of
Hadlow, who have provided both support and some comfort to his
family at this tragic time.”
Hadlow Playgroup, where Miss Austin worked as
an assistant, closed for three days after her death as a mark of
respect, and many villagers also signed a book of condolence set up
at St Mary’s Church in Hadlow last June.
Tuesday, March 16 2010
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