Tears of death car accused

Aaron (left) and Imran Khan both died in the incident

A man accused of killing three children when the car he was driving plunged into a lake was heard weeping "I killed the kids" a jury was told.

Courtney Barker, 22, has denied three counts of manslaughter after the car plunged 16 feet into the flooded chalk pit in Arlesey, Bedfordshire on 28 July last year.

His girlfriend's children, Imran Khan, six, Aaron Khan, five, and two-year-old Sharla Blair, drowned.

Mr Barker, of Morris Close, Marsh Farm, Luton, his girlfriend, Claire Armstrong, 23, and their friend, Ryan Purdey, managed to escape from the car as it sank.

Courtney Barker denies manslaughter

Teenagers at the beauty spot on the day of the tragedy told Luton Crown Court they saw the car being driven in a field at the side of the lake with the door being held open by the driver's foot.

The car drove towards the cliff edge then plunged over into the water.

Wayne Peat, 17, said he dived into the water then returned to the bank where he found himself sitting next to Mr Barker.

"He (Mr Barker) was saying 'I killed the kids', hitting the water and crying," said Mr Peat.

'Save my babies'

Earlier, he said, he had seen the car being driven across the field with its door held open by the driver's right foot.

He estimated that the car was travelling between 15 and 20 mph.

Another teenager, Kevin Payne, said he saw Mr Barker standing in the water shortly after the car plunged off the cliff.

"He was in the water, about waist high, shouting and crying 'Oh my God'," said Mr Payne.

Jane Reader, another teenager visiting the beauty spot with friends, said: "He (Mr Barker) was just saying, 'Save my babies'. He was sort of praying."

The case continues.