Defendant tells court '˜it should have been me' in crash killing Gosport mum

A TEARFUL driver who has admitted causing the death of a 28-year-old mum in a head-on crash has told a jury '˜it should have been me'.
Sabrina BellmanSabrina Bellman
Sabrina Bellman

Sabrina Bellman, from Gosport, was holidaying in Cornwall with her husband, mother-in-law and young daughter when she was killed on Boxing Day 2015.

Daniel Smith, 31, from St Teath, has been on trial at Truro Crown Court this week for causing the crash.

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The court previously heard Smith was driving on the wrong side of the road at ‘well over’ the 50mph speed limit when the collision took place on a bend at Washaway.

Smith has pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving but denies causing both death and injury by dangerous driving.

Smith, who had been driving for nine years and had a clean licence, admitted his driving was ‘absolutely not acceptable’ that night.

He had owned his BMW Mini Convertible for just over two weeks and decided to drive to Birmingham after a row with his then-wife and her family members.

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He said: ‘I remember coming round the corner and seeing the Bellmans’ headlights and then I remember the impact. When I saw the Bellmans’ car on its side that’s when I realised just how bad it was.

‘I was on the wrong side of the road, I don’t know how or why but it shouldn’t have happened. It was my fault and it should have been me.’

When questioned by prosecutor Jo Martin, Smith said he accepted he was travelling too fast but denied being in a rush to get to Victoria Services or speeding throughout the rest of the journey.

He also denied her claims that he was angry.

The jury retired to consider their verdict yesterday.

(Proceeding)