Motorway crash deaths 'unlawful'

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A misadventure verdict was returned on the 18-year-old behind the wheel of the car which was driven the wrong way up the M4

Verdicts of unlawful killing by gross negligence have been returned on four people killed in a head-on crash on the M4 motorway.

A jury found that two men in a Ford Mondeo, driven the wrong way at up to 113mph on the eastbound M4 near Newport, were unlawfully killed.

The same verdicts were returned on an elderly Surrey couple in a second car.

A misadventure verdict was returned on the driver, 18, who was evading a police pursuit and had taken cocaine.

Christopher Beresford, known as "Rizza", drove in the wrong direction along the motorway in the Mondeo.

Reaching 113mph at some points, he passed 12 oncoming cars, coaches and tankers before smashing 76 seconds later into the 13th vehicle - a Volvo carrying James and Bridget Stafford, who were 69 and 70.

The couple, driving home to Thornton Heath on 17 September 2007 after a holiday in Ireland, were killed.

Neither the Mondeo or the Volvo braked prior to impact Pc Christopher Goddard, Gwent Police Police pursuit 'followed correct procedures'

Mr Beresford, 18, and passengers Lee Maggs, 23, and Sam Case, 19, all from Newport, also died. One man inside the car survived.

James Bunnett told the police that Mr Beresford was "a mad and insane driver and didn't care" and who wouldn't stop for police because he was a disqualified driver.

After the verdict, Mr Beresford's uncle Carl Haynes said: "We deeply regret the actions taken by Christopher, my nephew, on that fateful night.

"We would like to apologise to the families and all affected by this. Our deepest sympathy goes out to the Stafford family and their friends. We wish to now finally lay our sons to rest."

Police investigators estimated that the Mondeo was travelling at an average speed of 86mph and just above 80mph at the moment of impact.

Pc Christopher Goddard, a collision investigator with Gwent Police, said the speedometer in the Staffords' Volvo 940 had stuck at 78mph.

We believe that there are very important lessons to be learned, lessons that we hope, for our parents' sake, may save lives in the future Stafford family statement

Police pursuing the Mondeo prior to the crash had stopped when it turned the wrong way down an exit sliproad onto the M4 near junction 24.

Pc Goddard said: "Neither the Mondeo or the Volvo braked prior to impact.

"From the psychology of driving, you have to appreciate what is wrong before you can react to it."

Gwent Coroner David Bowen said a car travelling in the opposite direction was the last thing Mr Stafford expected to see, adding: "He had no chance to do anything?"

Pc Goddard replied: "Absolutely."

CCTV footage of the moment of impact was shown to the jury and the families of the five people killed in the crash were given the opportunity to leave the court before it was played.

The video showed the Mondeo, with lights flashing, driving westbound on the eastbound carriageway travelling in lane three until it hit the Stafford's Volvo which had been about to overtake two cars in the middle lane.

The inquest has previously heard from the only survivor of the crash, James Bunnett, who was a passenger in the Mondeo.

Christopher Beresford was a 'mad, insane driver' said a survivor

He described Mr Beresford as "a mad and insane driver and didn't care".

In a statement read out, he added: "I know Rizza's a disqualified driver and there's no way he would stop for police. I know he's driven up motorways the wrong way before. Other people told me so after the accident."

Post-mortem examinations carried out on all those killed in the crash revealed they died of multiple injuries.

Blood tests showed that Mr Beresford and Mr Case had taken cocaine in the hours before the crash but it would no longer have been affecting them when the collision happened.

Nobody involved in the crash had been drinking alcohol.

Mr Stafford was originally from Ayrshire and his wife was from Achill Island in the Irish Republic.

They had been returning to Surrey after catching a ferry to Fishguard in west Wales.

Lee Maggs' father, Robert, said after the inquest: "I just apologise to Mr and Mrs Stafford's immediate family in these tragic circumstances."

In a statement read out on behalf of the Stafford family by their solicitor, Kerstin Scheel, they said: "It is impossible to adequately describe the terrible sense of sadness we feel knowing that our much-loved parents died in such tragic circumstances.

"We believe that there are very important lessons to be learned, lessons that we hope, for our parents' sake, may save lives in the future."

The family also offered their condolences to the relatives of others who died in the crash.