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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
National
Nick Tyrrell

Man admits killing 14-year-old girl in St Helens car crash

A man has admitted causing death by dangerous driving after a 14-year old girl was killed in a crash in St Helens.

Brandon Turton was behind the wheel of a Renault Megane when he hit Courtney Ellis on Blackbrook Road on September 19, 2020.

An inquest into Courtney’s death last year heard two cars were “racing in convoy”, with Turton’s car later hitting her.

READ MORE: Cars 'racing in convoy' when girl, 14, was knocked down and killed

She had been in a nearby park with her friend and sister and had then climbed over a wall and gone towards the road.

The ECHO reported in October 2020 that coroner's officer Albert Howard-Murphy told the inquest: "Two vehicles were sighted by the witnesses travelling at speed and potentially racing with each other, on Stanley Bank Way, towards Blackbrook Road.

"As Courtney Ellis entered the carriageway, she was struck by one of the vehicles, at its front near side, and was thrown a considerable distance down the road, and sustained fatal injuries. They were in multiple locations, consistent with a road traffic collision. She was given CPR at the scene before being transferred by ambulance, to Whiston Hospital."

Courtney, from Haydock, died a short time later. Police investigators said the weather was dry, visibility was good, and there were no parked cars obstructing any view on the 30mph road.

Turton appeared before a judge at Liverpool Crown Court this morning and spoke only to confirm his details and to plead guilty to causing death by dangerous driving. Ben Jones, prosecuting, said he and Jeremy Rawson, defending, had identified Wednesday as a potential date for Turton’s sentencing.

Mr Jones said Courtney’s mother wished to read out a victim personal statement at the sentencing hearing and asked Judge David Potter to adjourn sentencing for two days. Judge Potter agreed to that request and bailed Turton, of Borron Road in Newton-le-Willows, to appear later this week.

However, he ordered the now 21-year-old to surrender his passport and indicated he is likely to receive a custodial sentence.

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