Baby girl to sue police over her father’s death

A 12-WEEK-OLD baby is to become the youngest person to sue police after her father was killed in a car chase before she was even born.

Amelia Thomson’s father, Liam, 23, died when the car he was being driven in crashed on a country lane in Pontrilas, Herefordshire, last December.

His two daughters, Lola, aged five, and Amelia, three months, are now set to bring dependency claims against West Mercia Police for causing his death, in a case that could set a legal precedent.

Their legal representative, Nick Turner, of Russell & Co, said the case could pave the way for other children who were unborn when their parents were killed to bring compensation claims.

He will argue that the children have been deprived of the income of Mr Thomson, who was a trainee dairyman.

The driver of the car that Mr Thomson was in, a 22-year-old woman, has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and was later released on bail.

It is said that two police officers, who are currently under investigation, gave chase in an unmarked BMW X5 during the incident which happened at night, on an unlit lane and in dense fog.

Mr Turner said the case could involve a compensation claim for up to £500,000. He added: “I’ve been doing civil actions against the police for 25 years and I can’t recall ever coming across a case where the plaintiff is a threemonth-old child.”

The sisters’ claim will be brought under the Fatal Accidents Act 1976, which allows relatives of those killed as a result of the wrongdoing of others to claim compensation. The case will clarify whether the act covers unborn children.

An IPCC spokesman said: “Our independent investigation into a fatal road traffic incident in which Liam Thomson died, is ongoing.

“We have served notices on two West Mercia Police officers to advise them that they are subject to investigation,” it added.

‘In 25 years, I can’t recall a civil case where the plaintiff is three months old’