A POSTMAN has denied causing a fatal three-car accident while carrying out his village rounds.Jody Pemberton, 22, of Station Road, Hadleigh, appeared before Mildenhall magistrates to face a charge of careless driving relating to an accident in which wife and mother Daphne Halls, 59, was killed.

A POSTMAN has denied causing a fatal three-car accident while carrying out his village rounds.

Jody Pemberton, 22, of Station Road, Hadleigh, appeared before Mildenhall magistrates to face a charge of careless driving relating to an accident in which wife and mother Daphne Halls, 59, was killed.

The Hadleigh-based postman was in the middle of his rural delivery round on January 24 last year, when the crash happened on a "sweeping bend" along the B1115 between Bildeston and Chelsworth at around 8am.

The court heard how a Ford Focus driven by a third motorist, Mitchell Marginson, ploughed into the side of Mrs Halls' Ford Fiesta after her car was knocked sideways following an initial collision with Pemberton's postal van. Prosecutor David Sunman said the Crown's case centred around a belief that Pemberton's van had crossed central hazard warning lines and hit the corner of Mrs Halls' car.

In court, Mr Marginson said he was travelling to work behind Mrs Hall's Ford Fiesta along the B1115 on the morning of the accident when he saw a red postal van coming around the bend on the opposite side of the road.

But under cross-examination from defence solicitor Alan Compton, Mr Marginson said he could not explain why he did not stop before hitting Mrs Hall's car despite claiming he was driving a safe distance behind her.

Magistrates also heard evidence from Pc Brian Scanlon of Suffolk police, who carried out an examination of all three vehicles a day after the tragedy.

He said the windscreen of the Royal Mail van was dirty and that the wipers were in swipe mode, which suggested they were being operated.

The trial was adjourned until today when Pemberton is expected to take the stand.