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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
World
Josh Salisbury

Louis Thorold: Pensioner, 74, appears in court accused of causing death of baby

Shelagh Robertson (centre) arrives at Cambridge Magistrates' Court

(Picture: PA)

A pensioner has appeared in court charged with causing the death of a baby boy by careless driving.

Louis Thorold was being pushed in a pram by his mother when he was killed during the accident at Waterbeach, in Cambridgeshire, on January 22 last year.

Shelagh Robertson is accused of causing the death of the five-month-old.

Robertson wore a long red coat over a turtle neck jumper as she appeared for the first time at Cambridge Magistrates' Court on Thursday.

Louis' parents Chris and Rachael Thorold held one another as they watched on from the public gallery while the court heard brief details of the case.

The 74-year-old gave no indication of her plea to the single charge of causing the infant's death by careless driving.

Robertson, of Stables Yard, Waterbeach, was said to have been driving a Mazda 2 car on the A10 at the junction with Car Dyke Road.

She spoke only to confirm her personal details and to give no indication of plea, also asking the court clerk to repeat some of what she said as she struggled to hear.

Robertson was bailed to appear at Cambridge Crown Court on March 17.

Mrs Thorold was also injured in the incident, and was left in a coma for ten days afterwards, suffering a fractured skull.

In a statement paying tribute to his son, Mr Thorold has previously said: "We will love you always our little Louis.

"You were only with us for a short time, but you made us the happiest people in the world.

"I cannot describe how heartbroken we are that you are gone. You are such a happy little boy and your joyful smile and laughter will never leave us.”

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