CPS ARE URGED TO THINK AGAIN
AN inquest into Pearl’s death held on Thursday ruled that her sad death was an accident.
Forensic collision investigator PC Gareth Davies had told the inquest, held at Pontypridd Coroner’s Court: “The hand brake wasn’t applied and it wasn’t in park [mode]. It was on two notches out of six.”
He also said the gear lever of the automatic vehicle was found to be between reverse and park.
A criminal case was not brought against the owner of the Range Rover, Andrew Williams, as the Criminal Prosecution Service (CPS) found that the case “failed to meet the evidential test for prosecution”.
Speaking after the inquest, the Black family questioned the decision to rule out criminal action because the vehicle began its motion on private property before rolling across a road. Their legal representative said the family has asked him to contact the CPS to ask them to review their decision, and added the family believe there is a prospect of bringing a claim for gross negligence manslaughter as a result of the evidence given during the inquest.
Speaking on Friday, a senior barrister said he believed the CPS should review the evidence.
Andrew Taylor, a criminal barrister based in Cardiff, urged the prosecution to go back and look at everything that was said, review the evidence and look at the possibility of gross negligence manslaughter because he believed the general public would be aghast at somebody walking away without the prosecution knowing the full facts of the case.