No defects found in car that hit teen in Ardoyne
A FORENSIC scientist has revealed there were “no mechanical defects” in a car driven by an Orangeman that collided with a group of pedestrians at a north Belfast interface.
The scientist from the Road Traffic Collision Unit was giving evidence at the trial of John Alexander Aughey, who is accused of driving into a crowd close to the Ardoyne shop fronts following a band parade in July 2015.
The 63-year-old denies six charges arising from the incident, including dangerous driving causing grievous bodily injury to a teenage girl who became trapped under his Nissan Pulsar.
The jury also heard from several police officers who were at the scene, one of whom said he signalled and shouted at Aughey to stop as he was “very, very concerned” for the trapped girl’s safety.
The same officer also told Belfast Crown Court he felt three people in the crowd had “considerable influence” over the rest of those gathered at the shop fronts. The jury has already been shown footage of Aughey’s Nissan striking the group following an Orange parade on July 13, 2015.
Tensions at the interface were heightened after a Parades Com- mission determination banned an Orange lodge and flute band from returning past the Ardoyne shop fronts.
The car struck the crowd as Aughey, from Brae Hill Park in Belfast, attempted to do a U-turn on the Crumlin Road.
Aughey’s car was examined the following month, with a forensic scientist yesterday revealing no defect was found that would have contributed to the incident.
Theforensicscientistsaidthat after viewing CCTV footage and stills, injured teenager Phoebe Clawson was thrown onto the bonnet before landing in front of the vehicle.
He said she was then dragged or rolled about four metres whilst underneath the vehicle, while Aughey exited his vehicle 23 seconds after it came to rest.
The jury of eight women and four men also heard from police officers who were at the scene. One officer who was performing public service duties that evening told the court how, just before the collision, he saw a bottle thrown by someone in the crowd strike the car, while a sec- ond person kicked out at the vehicle at a set of traffic lights.
The constable said that after observing the car attempting to make a U-turn, he went to approach the Nissan as he didn’t know what the driver’s intention was.
The officer said he drew his baton and signalled for the motorist to stop.
Saying the car travelled on and “pushed persons out of its way”, the officer said he saw a young female going over the bonnet.
He said he again signalled and shouted for the driver to stop, telling the court: “I knew that the young girl was under the car and I had serious, serious concerns about her well-being. It was a very uncomfortable time.
“I was very much focused on the driver of the vehicle and the vehicle’s engine revs, which were increasing.”
He also said that at one point he believed he was going to be run over.
The officer was cross-examined by Greg Berry QC, the barrister representing Aughey.
He asked the officer whether the crowd was jeering and shouting.
The policeman replied: “I was aware of three people controlling the crowd.”
When asked who these three were, the officer said: “A lady whom I don’t know, and prominent figures from within the Ardoyne community.”
He described these community figures as “Mr Copeland and another chap who I know goes by the nickname of Dee”.
The PSNI officer told the court that these three “certainly had considerable influence over the crowd”.
The hearing continues.