02/05/2006
Man denies causing death of four friends
A 21-year-old man has appeared in court, charged with causing the deaths of four friends by dangerous driving.
Curtis Armstrong from Ivy Hill, Lisburn appeared in court for the opening day of his trial at Antrim Crown Court, where the court heard that he stood accused of driving his car at over 100 mph when his car left the road near Templepatrick in 2004, killing his four passengers.
Ian Currie, 18, and Philip McMurray, 19, from Banbridge, Joseph McDonald, 19, from Belfast and Graeme Waring, 17, from Lisburn, died instantly after the car crashed into a field and hit a tree at Ballyhill Road, Ligoniel, on 24 February 2004.
The court learned that the friends were returning from Hannahstown to Lisburn when the incident happened.
Curtis Armstrong, the only surviving witness, escaped with minor injuries. He is alleged to have blamed the cause of the collision of one of the back-seat passengers who he said was "messing about."
The prosecution claimed he was driving in excess of 100 mph, and that as he was still a restricted driver, should not have been travelling at more than 45 mph.
The trial is due to continue.
(EF/SP)
Curtis Armstrong from Ivy Hill, Lisburn appeared in court for the opening day of his trial at Antrim Crown Court, where the court heard that he stood accused of driving his car at over 100 mph when his car left the road near Templepatrick in 2004, killing his four passengers.
Ian Currie, 18, and Philip McMurray, 19, from Banbridge, Joseph McDonald, 19, from Belfast and Graeme Waring, 17, from Lisburn, died instantly after the car crashed into a field and hit a tree at Ballyhill Road, Ligoniel, on 24 February 2004.
The court learned that the friends were returning from Hannahstown to Lisburn when the incident happened.
Curtis Armstrong, the only surviving witness, escaped with minor injuries. He is alleged to have blamed the cause of the collision of one of the back-seat passengers who he said was "messing about."
The prosecution claimed he was driving in excess of 100 mph, and that as he was still a restricted driver, should not have been travelling at more than 45 mph.
The trial is due to continue.
(EF/SP)
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