A man who killed a 94-year-old woman when he reversed his van over her said he didn't properly look in his vehicle's rear view camera - and doesn't think it would've helped anyway, a court heard.

Edgaras Kondratas, 40, is charged with causing death by driving without due care and consideration while over the specified limit for a controlled drug (cannabis).

He denies the charge and is on trial at Winchester Crown Court.

It relates to an incident on Wooland Gardens in Wyke Regis on May 2, 2023, that resulted in the death of Sylvia Bentley, a 94-year old woman who lived in the area.

Kondratas, who is Lithuanian, took the stand on Wednesday accompanied by an interpreter.

It was heard that Kondratas does not generally use his rear-view camera, covering a blind spot, when reversing.

He believes that he was travelling between 3-5mph during the incident.

He told the jury: “When I was moving back, I could see the side of my van very clearly and I didn’t see any people. If I had walked the four metres to the back of the van and back, someone may have appeared in that time.”

He said he saw Mrs Bentley walking from the alleyway before he got back into his van.

When asked how he felt after running her over, Kondratas said: “I was in shock. I think about it every day. I would like to express my sympathies to her family.”

Mr Gabb, prosecuting, said: “If you had chosen to look in the camera, you would have seen her.”

Kondratas replied: “The screen was still divided into four, plus to see her in that screen, I don’t think it would have been possible.”

Mr Gabb said: “Are you telling us now that you have a memory of looking into the camera at this time?

Kondratas said: “I said I probably glanced.”

The defendant, of Southampton, claims he only uses the cameras when he ‘tries to park close to something.’

When asked if he ‘now accepts responsibility for the death of Mrs Bentley, the defendant said: “I don’t think it was possible to avoid this tragedy.

“I don’t want to blame Mrs Bentley, but she could have chosen to walk on the sidewalk.”

Mr Gabb said: “You knew there was a blind spot, why would you reverse without checking it.”

Kondratas replied: “By the time you go to the back of the van and get into the driver’s side, you could have a new obstacle in the way. When I reverse, I don’t look at the camera, I look in the [wing] mirrors.”

He claimed looking in the camera ‘is not the same’ as looking out of a rear window as with a rear window ‘you can see everything.’

Kondratas added: “The camera shows you just what is behind the van. You can’t see the blind spot when you are looking in the mirrors.”

Mr Gabb said: “You did nothing to check the blind spot was clear. All you could see was the side of the van.”

Kondratas claimed he looked around the van,’ however the prosecutor responded: “CCTV shows you never got beyond your driver’s door. You can’t possibly see what’s in your blind spot.

“You are expecting someone if they are there to know you are coming and dodge out of the way.”

Kondratas said: “I was hoping that if someone was behind the van they would have moved away.”

Mr Gabb said: “Is hoping good enough. She is an old lady of 94 with a walking stick or pole and walking slowly.

Kondratas explained that there are signs at the rear of the van, a Mercedes Sprinter, ‘saying that there are blind spots and that drivers should beware.’

The jury was told Mrs Bentley was partially sighted.

READ MORE: Driver on trial for horror crash which killed 94-year-old woman.

The court heard the defendant was found to have 2.8 micrograms of THC (cannabis) in his blood; the legal limit is 2 micrograms.

He told the jury he smoked it the day before and not on the day of the incident.

The trial continues.