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Conclusion of unlawful killing at the inquest into the death of Annie Thompson

24/06/2024

Harriet Gilchrist, instructed by Richard Foyster of Ashtons Legal, represented the family of Annie Thompson at the inquest into her death. The inquest was before the Assistant Coroner for Suffolk Peter Taheri.

At around 7pm on 17 August 2023 Ms Thompson was returning from holiday, driving southbound on the A1088 in the parish of Euston. The Inquest heard that a male was driving an Audi A4 northwards on the same road. The Assistant Coroner found that earlier that day, the male had sent text messages to his partner stating that he would get drunk and disappear, he asked his partner not be angry, said he would not come back and that she would find a car. The Assistant Coroner found the male was driving in an extremely erratic manner over a prolonged period ranging from driving very slowly to speeds of up to 100mph. The male was seen swerving onto the wrong side of the road, coming off the road and narrowly missing other vehicles prior to his collision with Ms Thompson. The Assistant Coroner found that the male was driving on the wrong side of the road in excess of the speed limit at the time of the head on collision with Ms Thompson.

The Inquest heard evidence from the Forensic Collision Investigator that Ms Thompson did not have the time or distance to react and that there was nothing she could have done to avoid the crash. There was no evidence that any mechanical, medical or environmental factors contributed to the collision.

The driver of the Audi A4 was pronounced dead at the scene. A large number of empty alcohol cans were found in his vehicle and toxicology tests found that he was three and a half times over the legal alcohol limit for driving.

Ms Thompson was taken to hospital where she died from a traumatic brain injury sustained in the collision on 29 September 2023.

Following submissions on behalf of the family the Assistant Coroner concluded that Ms Thompson had been unlawfully killed.

Harriet also represented the family at the inquest touching upon the death of the driver of the Audi A4, in which a conclusion of road traffic collision was recorded.

This case received press coverage:

https://www.eadt.co.uk/news/24403803.unlawful-death-ruling-euston-crash-victim-death-inquests

https://www.eadt.co.uk/news/24403430.tribute-stowmarket-mum-annie-thompson-crash-death

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