THE trial of two people charged with causing the death of a cyclist, when their road-rage row ended with a fatal collision, is entering its final stages.

Paige Robinson and David Ferry are accused using a dual carriageway as their own personal racetrack in the minutes leading up to the death of Graham Pattison.

The 24-year-old Robinson killed the father-of-two when she smashed into the rear of him while she was involved in an on-going dispute with Ferry, who was driving of an Audi, as they drove along the A689 towards Hartlepool.

The Northern Echo: Graham Pattison, 49, from Hartlepool, died in a crash when he was travelling on his pedal cycle on the A689 eastbound between Wynyard and Sedgefield. Picture: CLEVELAND POLICEGraham Pattison, 49, from Hartlepool, died in a crash when he was travelling on his pedal cycle on the A689 eastbound between Wynyard and Sedgefield. Picture: CLEVELAND POLICE

Dan Cordey, representing Ferry, gave his closing speech to jurors at Teesside Crown Court where he reminded jurors that Robinson already had a speeding conviction and his client had not seen the collision.

Read more: Army veteran denies his driving caused death of cyclist dad-of-two on the A689

Ferry told jurors that he was calm under pressure after serving tours of duty in Northern Ireland, Kosovo, Bosnia, Afghanistan, and Iraq during his 12-year military service and would have pulled over to help if he had known what had happened.

The Northern Echo: The A689 where the fatal collision happened. Picture: GOOGLEThe A689 where the fatal collision happened. Picture: GOOGLE

Martin Sharpe, representing Robinson, reiterated her defence that she was forced to take evasive action when Ferry ‘swerved’ his car towards her and she collided into the rear of the cyclist.

During her evidence, the 24-year-old had sobbed as she told jurors that she didn’t see the cyclist before he smashed into the windscreen of her white Ford Fiesta when she was travelling at around 70mph.

Earlier in the trial, the jury heard how Mr Pattison suffered catastrophic injuries including fractures to his spine when he was flung from his bike when Robinson drove into the rear of him.

Michael Woodhouse, a police collision investigator, had earlier told the jury that both defendants should have been able to see the cyclist as he rode along the dual carriageway.

Robinson, of Geranium Close in Billingham and Ferry, 47, of Granville Terrace in Redcar, both deny the charge of causing death by dangerous driving following the fatal collision on on July 24, 2020.

The trial continues.

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