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A pedestrian will be sentenced for manslaughter today after she shouted at a cyclist who then died.
Aurol Grey, 49, gestured in a hostile and aggressive way towards retired midwife, Celia Ward, 77, telling her to ‘get off the f**king pavement’.
Seconds later she wobbled into the road where she was hit by a VW Passat that was unable to stop in time, killing her at the scene.
Prosecutor Simon Spence KC told jurors the two women were heading in opposite directions on the pavement of the ring road in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire.
In her police interview, Grey, who has cerebral palsy, told officers she was partially sighted and described the bicycle as travelling fast in the centre of the pavement.
She said she was ‘anxious that I was going to get hit by it’, adding she ‘may have unintentionally put’ out her hand to protect herself.
It is illegal to cycle on the pavement, but the court heard police were unable to ‘categorically’ confirm whether the pavement was a shared cycleway.
Mr Dollard said: ‘This is a difficult and tragic case.
‘Everyone will have their own views on cyclists, pavements and cycleways but what is clear is Auriol Grey’s response to the presence of Celia on a pedal cycle was totally disproportionate and ultimately found to be unlawful, resulting in Celia’s untimely and needless death.
‘I am pleased with the verdict and hope it is a stark reminder to all road users to take care and be considerate to each other.
‘I want to take the time to acknowledge Celia’s family and thank them for their patience and dignity throughout the entirety of the investigation and trial.’
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