A woman has appeared in court accused of causing the deaths of two pedestrians by driving dangerously on a main road through a West Cumbrian village.
Jade Devine, 32, faces four charges arising out of an incident on the A596 at Flimby, near Maryport, on May 15 2022
On that date two pedestrians — Bethanie Clark, 31, and 43-year-old David Muir — were pronounced dead at the scene having been found lying in the road.
Police and other members of the emergency services responded after being called by a member of the public just after midnight.
Devine faces two charges which allege that she caused the deaths of Miss Clark and Mr Muir by driving a Nissan Qashqai dangerously at that location on that date.
There are also two alternative charges: these allege that Devine caused the deaths of Miss Clark and Mr Muir by driving the vehicle carelessly and while almost twice the legal drink-drive limit.
During an 11-minute hearing at Carlisle Crown Court this morning, Devine from the dock spoke to confirm her name and enter pleas of not guilty to all four charges as they were read to her by a clerk.
Devine, of Andersons Court, Flimby, is now due to stand trial in front of a crown court jury. This hearing is due to start on April 28 next year and, it is estimated, will last around four days.
During today’s hearing — and with the assistance of prosecution and defence lawyers — Judge Nicholas Barker set a timetable of stage dates for the progression of the case in the coming months.
Devine was reminded that she must submit a formal statement setting out her defence to the allegations by mid-August this year.
She is next due to appear at the crown court for a review hearing on September 13. In the meantime, Judge Barker extended her unconditional bail.
Relatives of Miss Clark, Mr Muir and Devine were present in court this morning.
- An additional charge which had alleged that Devine was concerned in the supply of cocaine had been discontinued prior to today’s court hearing.
