Jury split on verdict over Aimee Welsh death

The jury was discharged by Judge Christopher Prince after he was told the nine women and three men were split on their decision about the case.

Aimee Welsh, 25, died almost a month after her Peugeot 207 was hit by a Cleveland Police van driven by PC Thomas Hart, 28, last October 18.

The accident happened on the A1032 Newport Bridge Approach Road on the outskirts of Middlesbrough as the officer answered a 999 call.

The prosecution alleged that PC Hart lost control of the Vauxhall Vivaro van after taking a bend at too high a speed – 77mph on the 40mph stretch.

He insisted his driving was not careless, and experts for the defence say the right-hand bend could have been negotiated safely at an even higher speed.

The jury at Teesside Crown Court spent more than five hours over two days deliberating the case after hearing evidence over four days this week.

At midday, a note was sent to Judge Prince saying: “After further discussions, we are still split on our decision (and gave numbers).

“We do not feel that any further length of time will change our decision and each member of our team is confident of their decision.”

PC Hart, from Ryhope, Sunderland, who denied the charge, will stand trial again at the same court on a date to be fixed.

Prosecutor Tim Parkin said that he had spoken to Aimee’s family and the Crown Prosecution Service about whether the case should be tried again.

“The matter was considered yesterday evening, the family was consulted, and the family was consulted this morning to see if their view had changed overnight,” he said.

“I have had discussions at the highest level with lawyers at the Crown Prosecution Service and this matter will go to retrial.”

Miss Welsh, from Thornaby, near Stockton, was driving home her fiancé Anthony Theakston, after he had a night out when the accident happened.

The day before the crash, she had chosen her engagement ring, and earlier that evening she had been making wedding plans with her mother.