Accused 'weeps' over lake deaths

Courtney Barker denies three counts of manslaughter

The driver of a car which plunged into a lake killing three children wept as he told a jury how he "panicked" when the accelerator jammed.

Courtney Barker, a 22-year-old forklift truck driver from Luton, Bedfordshire, is accused of the manslaughter of his girlfriend's three children.

Imran Khan, 6, Aaron Khan, 5, and Sharla Blair, 3, drowned at the Blue Lagoon lake at Arlesey, Bedfordshire, in July last year.

Mr Barker, 22, of Morris Close, Marsh Farm, has pleaded not guilty at Luton Crown Court.

Sharla Blair, three, died in the accident

The court heard that Mr Barker was driving when the Vauxhall Astra Estate plunged over the 16-foot drop, overturned and sunk.

Mr Barker, together with his girlfriend Claire Armstrong and family friend Ryan Purdy, managed to escape from the car as it sank in 30 feet of water.

The prosecution alleged that Mr Barker was driving with his door open and operating the pedal with his left foot as he made his way across a field towards the edge of the lake.

But Mr Barker told the court that his door had only been open for about 15-seconds and that he had been operating the pedals with both feet at all times.

"When I changed gear the car started to go faster and the door wanted to shut so it shut."

He said he had been driving towards the cliff edge at no more 20mph intending to park next to a motorcycle.

Barker said he slowed down and took his foot of the accelerator but the car kept going.

"We carried on going at that same speed. It was just like I didn't take my foot away," he said.

The trial continues.