Closing speeches have been made at the trial of a man accused of killing a 94-year-old Weymouth woman by careless driving.

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

He denies the charge and has been on trial at Winchester Crown Court since Monday.

It relates to an incident on Wooland Gardens in Wyke Regis on May 2, 2023, that resulted in the death of Sylvia Bentley.

The jury has previously heard Kondratas, who was collecting bags of clothes donated to charity, reversed his van over Mrs Bentley before moving forwards and hitting her again, only realising what had happened when he got out of the vehicle.

Final arguments were made by the prosecution and defence yesterday - the last opportunity by each side to make their case to the jury directly.

Mr Gabb, prosecuting, reiterated his argument that if Kondratas had properly checked his blind spot, as "any careful and considerate driver" would, he would have seen Mrs Bentley.

He added that Kondratas had several methods of doing so, from getting out and checking himself, waiting for his colleague to return and having him help, to using the internal cameras on the van.

Mr Gabb said: "He did nothing to check the blind spots. Mrs Bentley was there to be seen on that camera from the moment that door went click and it shut."

Ms Mertens, defending, said that whilst the vehicle did have cameras, they were not standard across similar vans that Kondratas was used to, which was why he relied on his mirrors, and that he was 'doing his best'. 

Read more: Driver who killed pensioner tells jury why he doesn't use van's rear view cameras

She added that this was a 'tragic accident'.

The judge will begin summing up on Friday morning before the jury retires to consider its verdict.

The trial continues.