A MAN accused of causing the deaths of an elderly couple by dangerous driving is “utterly devastated” and prays for them and their family, a court heard.

Harising Gurung, 45, denies two counts of causing the deaths of church-goers David and Mary Marshall while driving a Volkswagen Golf on the A40 near Raglan on July 20 last year.

Gurung, of Beacons Close, Brecon, also denies alternative counts of causing death by careless driving.

In the second day of the trial yesterday at Newport Crown Court he appeared with the help of an interpreter before Judge Daniel Williams.

On Monday, Huw Evans, prosecuting, told the court Gurung had tried to over-take the Marshall’s Ford Ka near Clytha, but hit the rear right hand side causing the car to spin out of control before hitting a tree.

The court heard Mr Marshall, 79, a retired RAF Flight Sergeant from Llangattock near Crickhowell, was pronounced dead at the scene, and his wife, 73, died four days later in hospital.

The jury heard evidence yesterday from PC Chris Goddard, a senior collision investigator with Gwent Police, who attended the scene following the crash.

He said skid marks showed the Ka was “out of control and skidding sideways. As it turned left it was also spinning, and it span over the road, through grass and onto the verge.”

Mr Evans asked him what kind of control the Ka driver would have had.

PC Goddard said: “There is no control over a car in that position.”

He calculated the defendant’s speed to be around 74mph and estimated there was around 19mph difference in the speed of the cars.

He also said the defendant could have successfully braked and not hit the Ka as close as 4m from its rear.

The defence say Gurung had already indicated and begun overtaking when he started sneezing and suffering from stomach cramps.

The court heard audio of Gurung’s first interview and a transcript of his prepared statement from his second interview was read aloud.

In it, he said he would never get over the incident, that he was utterly devastated and could not stop thinking about the couple and their family. He added he and his family pray for them.

He was described by the officer in the case, PC Peter Gibbons, as being ‘honourable’ throughout the investigation. The court heard he has no previous convictions.

Proceeding