By Q Radio News
A Co. Down man was today charged with killing a woman and injuring her baby daughter by dangerous driving.
Appearing at Newtownards Magistrates Court by videolink from his solicitor’s office, 46-year-old Steven Boyd confirmed he understood the two charges against him.
Boyd, from the Ballymaconnell Road in Bangor, is accused of causing the death of Caroline Pugh and grievous bodily injury to her baby daughter by driving dangerously on the A2 Belfast Road on 10 November 2017.
None of the facts giving rise to the charges were opened in court but it is understood they relate to a three vehicle collision on the busy Bangor to Belfast carriageway.
Reports at the time describe how multiple emergency vehicles and the air ambulance attended the scene where tragically, Ms Pugh died while her baby was taken to the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children in a critical condition.
During a short Preliminary Enquiry at court today (tues), a prosecuting lawyer submitted there was a Prima Facile case against Boyd, a submission conceded by defence solicitor Andrew Kinney.
Boyd was told that although not obliged to, he had the right to comment on the charges or to give evidence to the court but he declined the opportunity.
District Judge Mark Hamill returned the case to Downpatrick Crown Court for trial, leaving the arraignment date as yet to be fixed.
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