Man accused of killing three people denies causing death by dangerous driving

A man has denied killing two women and a six-year-old boy by driving dangerously in a car which is alleged to have been taken without its owner’s consent.

Joe-Lewis Tyler pleaded not guilty on Monday to three counts of causing death by dangerous driving, three of causing death while uninsured, one of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, and one of aggravated vehicle-taking.

All eight counts relate to a crash involving a BMW 318 in which Leo Painter, Courtney Hemming, 26, and 39-year-old Claire Adkins suffered fatal injuries.

Both women, who were travelling in a Ford Mondeo with Leo, were pronounced dead at the scene of the collision on the A44 Spetchley Road at Spetchley, Worcestershire, on Thursday February 22.

Leo was taken to Worcestershire Royal Hospital but died shortly after arrival.Tyler, of Grenville Road in Worcester, spoke only to confirm his name, greet the judge and submit his eight not guilty pleas during a video-link appearance at the city’s crown court.

The 33-year-old, who is being held in custody at HMP Hewell, entered the video-link booth on crutches wearing a grey sweater and jogging bottoms before sitting behind a table.

Around 50 interested parties, including relatives of those who died, watched the proceedings from the public gallery and were thanked for their courtesy by Judge James Burbidge KC.

Adjourning the case after the 20-minute hearing, Judge Burbidge told Tyler: “You have denied responsibility for the crimes alleged against you and a jury of 12 people will try you.“

At the moment I fix the trial date as August 27.”

The judge added that a High Court judge would be invited to consider whether to preside at the trial, given the case involved three deaths.

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