THE jury in the trial of a policeman involved in a crash which led to the death of another driver has been sent home for the night after failing to reach a verdict.
PC Thomas Hart is accused of causing the death by careless driving of Aimee Welsh, 25, in an accident on the outskirts of Middlesbrough last October 18.
After four days of evidence at Teesside Crown Court, the jury of nine women and three men was sent out this afternoon to deliberate its verdict.
They spent three-and-a-half hours in discussions, but were asked to go home for the night and return this morning after indicating that they were not all agreed.
Miss Welsh died from multiple injuries almost a month after the her Peugeot 207 was hit by the Cleveland Police van on the Newport Bridge Approach Road.
The prosecution alleges that PC Hart, 28, lost control of the van after taking a bend at too high a speed - 77mph on the 40mph stretch - as he answered a 999 call.
He insists his driving was not careless, and experts for the defence say the right-hand bend on the A1032 could have been negotiated safely at an even higher speed.
PC Hart, from Ryhope, Sunderland, denies the charge.
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