Pedestrian Paul Marshall, 70, died a week after he was struck by a van at the Millfield junction in Belfast
A 36-year old man appeared in court today where he denied causing the death of a pensioner by dangerous driving.
Pedestrian Paul Marshall, 70, died a week after he was struck by a van at the Millfield junction in Belfast in September last year. John Taggart appeared at Belfast Crown Court where he was charged with two offences arising from the fatality.
From Torrens Link in Belfast, Taggart confirmed his identity to a court clerk. He was then charged that on September 2th, 2024 he caused the death of Mr Marshall by driving dangerously on a road, namely within the vicinity of Divis Street, Castle Street and Millfield junction, Belfast.
When asked how he pleaded, Taggart replied “not guilty”.
He was also charged with causing the death of Paul Marshall by driving without due care and attention and consuming so much alcohol that the proportion of it in his breath exceeded the prescribed limited.
Taggart also entered a ‘not guilty’ plea to the second charge.
Following this, defence barrister Sean O’Hare told Judge Neil Rafferty KC that his client was not disputing “that he was the one behind the wheel of the vehicle”. Mr O’Hare said that in respect of the quality of the driving “there was another vehicle that carried out a manoeuvre in front of the defendant and he swerved to the left”.
Mr O’Hare added that “no blame at all” was being attributed to Mr Marshall.
Regarding the excess alcohol aspect, Taggart has claimed that on the day in question he was sipping from a bottle of juice which he had taken from his home and which he was unaware contained alcohol.
No date for a trial was set today and the case was re-listed again on October 20.
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