Death crash driver in court

Deborah Peaty had been 30 weeks pregnant

Three asylum seekers have appeared in court in connection with the deaths of a pregnant teacher and her unborn baby in a car crash.

Sri Lankan Ratnam Yogan, 28, was accused of two counts of causing death by dangerous driving following the accident in which 26-year-old Deborah Peaty and her daughter Charlotte died.

Mr Yogan was also charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice along with co-defendants Ramasamy Nallaikkanthan, also 28, and chemical engineering student Pushparajah Sinnappayal, 25.

Miss Peaty, who was 30 weeks pregnant, died after her Vauxhall Corsa was involved in a crash on the A5 near Potterspury, Northamptonshire, on 20 October.

Remanded in custody

Miss Peaty, from Daventry, Northamptonshire, was taken to hospital where Charlotte Louise was delivered, but both were pronounced dead.

She had been driving home from John Collet School in Wendover, Buckinghamshire, where she worked as an English teacher.

Mr Yogan, of Barrington Road, Manor Park, east London, was remanded in custody.

Leicester University student Mr Sinnappayal, of Ragdale Road, Leicester, and Mr Nallaikkanthan, also of Barrington Road, Manor Park, were remanded on bail at Northampton Crown Court.

All three men will reappear at Northampton Crown Court to enter pleas on 2 January 2004.

An inquest into the death was opened and adjourned on Wednesday.