A DRIVER who caused the death of a motorcyclist and his pillion passenger denies dangerous driving following the fatal crash near Worcester.

Gary Lillis appeared in the witness box at Worcester Crown Court yesterday (Thursday) after the deaths of Dean Turvey and his partner Emma Aldridge on the A44.

The 62-year-old of Hopton Drive, Kidderminster, admits two counts of causing death by careless driving but denies two counts or causing death by dangerous driving in the crash at around 1.40pm on October 15, 2017.

The retired teacher was turning right in his Citroen from the A44 at Cotheridge into Otherton Lane when he hit the motorcycle going in the opposite direction.

The court heard it was agreed that Lillis would have had between seven and eight seconds from the junction to see a vehicle coming in the opposite direction.

Lillis said

he drove past Laycocks Garden Centre but that his memory of the crash was ‘quite patchy.’

“I have been involved in a very serious accident with fatalities unfortunately. I have been in quite a lot of shock since,” he told the jury when examined by his barrister, Harry Bowyer.

He said the first he knew of the motorcycle was when his wife shouted ‘oh Gary!” He told the jury ‘it was my fault’ and that the motorcycle had right of way. Lillis also said of the police interview, “I was devastated. I was in tears.”

Michael Hall, prosecuting, asked him how many times he had looked before turning. Lillis said it must have been at least twice.

Mr Hall said: “Your evidence is you looked twice and on both occasions you missed the big dark bike everyone else saw?”

Lillis said he did not know why he had not seen it. Mr Hall said another driver behind him had seen Lillis crossing into the opposite carriageway before the manoeuvre but the defendant said he did not remember this.

My Hall told the defendant: “No one saw you indicate Mr Lillis. Is that because you only realised the turning was yours at the last minute?”

Lillis said he had ‘no idea’. He was also asked if he had relied on his peripheral vision to see the motorcycle ‘everyone else saw’.

“I don’t know” said Lillis.

The trial continues.