Driver Charged On Cabbie Death
26th September 2008
A Swansea Valley man has been charged with causing the death of Neath cabbie Raymond Tristram by dangerous driving.
Darren Joseph Neesham, who is in custody, made a short video-link appearance yesterday at Swansea Crown Court.
Neesham, aged 30, of Graig Road, Alltwen, allegedly caused Mr Tristram's death by driving a Mazda 6 car dangerously along Birchgrove Road, Glais, in the early hours of July 19 this year.
Police were pursuing the Mazda when it was in collision with the 61-year-old Skewen grandfather's taxi travelling in the opposite direction.
During yesterday's preliminary hearing before the Recorder of Swansea,
Judge John Diehl QC, Neesham spoke only to confirm his identity and say he could follow what was being said in the courtroom. The judge then discussed legal issues in the case with barristers Christopher Clee and Ian Wright, who appeared for the prosecution and defence respectively.
The allegation faced by Neesham, who is being held at Swansea Prison, is due to be formally put to him at a plea and case management hearing on November 12.
Earlier this month an investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) cleared the police of acting inappropriately while pursuing the Mazda.
Tom Davies, IPCC commissioner for Wales, said on September 10: "We have found the police officers in this incident behaved appropriately and within force policy and training. The officer had sought and received authorisation for the pursuit."
Source; thisisswansea.co.uk
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