Philip swerves charges
No public interest in trial over car crash, says CPS
THE Duke of Edinburgh will not be charged over the road crash that left two women injured because it is ‘not in the public interest’, prosecutors said yesterday.
Prince Philip, 97, pulled out into the path of a Kia car travelling at up to 40mph on an Aroad near the Queen’s Sandringham estate in Norfolk.
His Land Rover flipped while the front of the Kia was destroyed. Philip claimed to have been blinded by the sun but a passenger in the Kia said it was an overcast day. Lawyers had predicted that the duke could avoid appearing in court if he surrendered his driving licence, which he did earlier this month. The Crown Prosecution Service yesterday cited that decision as a factor. It said in a statement: ‘We took into account all of the circumstances in this case, including the levels of culpability, the age of the driver and the surrender of the licence.
We have decided that it would not be in the public interest to prosecute.’ Celebrity lawyer Nick Freeman – known as Mr Loophole – claimed he had seen a copy of the accident report which apportioned some blame to Kia motorist Ellie Townsend, 28, for failing to drive ‘more defensively’. Mr Freeman, whose clients have included Jeremy Clarkson and David Beckham, said: ‘Apparently the driver of the Kia saw the duke’s Land Rover emerging from the side road. He was probably doing that in order to get a better view of the road if he was dazzled by the sun.
‘But the Kia driver didn’t react. She could have slowed, flashed her lights or sounded her horn. She did none of those things. She took no evasive action – if she had the crash could have been avoided.’ Mr Freeman agreed there was no public interest in prosecuting the duke. He added: ‘It would have been a pyrrhic prosecution and a huge waste of taxpayer money.’
The crash happened on the 60mph A149 road on January 17 as Philip pulled out of the B1439.
Miss Townsend suffered cuts to her knee. Her nine-month-old son, who was on the back seat, was unhurt. Passenger Emma Fairweather, 46, broke her wrist. Care support worker Mrs Fairweather, who claimed the sky was overcast, called for Philip to be prosecuted. She is also seeking compensation.
Philip, who sent Mrs Fairweather a letter of apology, drove without a seatbelt 48 hours after the accident – and was given a police warning.
A Buckingham Palace spokesman said yesterday: ‘The Duke of Edinburgh respects the decision of the Crown Prosecution Service.’
Philip will still be able to drive around royal estates as they are private property.