Death crash driver walks free from court

Father-of-four Stephen Amor, 42, of Warwick Road, suffered a grand mal seizure while driving his Vauxhall Vivaro and crashed head on into a BMW, killing 60-year-old secretary Margaret Gosling.

Mrs Gosling's husband Michael, 65, a back seat passenger, suffered a smashed hip and broken arm but survived the accident at Lower Dicker in November, 2004.

Amor admitted causing death by dangerous driving on the basis that he got behind the wheel of his van despite suffering warning symptoms that a seizure was coming on.

He had suffered tell-tale shaking and sweating prior to the attack but normally having a sugary sweet would stop a full-blown seizure, Hove Crown Court was told.

But the sweet did not stop the attack coming on as the double glazing worker drove home from a job in Crowborough.

Prosecutor Richard Cherrill told the court the accident happened at about 3.30pm as the Goslings returned from a shopping trip in Eastbourne.

He said: "Mrs Gosling was driving in a northerly direction on the A22 and a van was being driven in the opposite direction by the defendant. The Goslings had bought some lino flooring and were on their way home. She was driving the family BMW estate.

"In order to make room for their purchase Mr Gosling sat behind Mrs Gosling. His wife was driving the car in question on the A22 towards Lower Dicker.

"Having left the Boship roundabout, travelling behind her was a Vauxhall Astra. The two cars were travelling at approximately 45mph in a restricted area of 50mph.

"It was cold but dry and there was no difficulty with visibility. It was perfectly light. The driver of the Astra saw a white van coming towards him and thus Mrs Gosling.

"It was quite apparent to him that it was on the wrong side of the road, travelling directly towards Mrs Gosling's car.

"There was no apparent reason whatsoever for its position on the wrong side of the road. It appeared to be travelling in an un-changeable position."

Mr Amor's wife, Karen, told the Observer this week: "We are happy with the judge's decision made on the facts presented to him and his assessment of culpability.

"However, there will be no celebrations as our thoughts are with the other family, as they always have been."