A fatal combination of speeding, alcohol and distraction meant Richard Bromley was responsible for the car crash which killed his girlfriend, a court heard.
Bromley, 23, was at the wheel when his Vauxhall Corsa left School Lane in Guilden Sutton and collided with a tree on June 24, 2013.
His girlfriend, 19-year-old Claudia Williams, was killed instantly.
Bromley, of Daniell Way, Great Boughton, faces a single charge of causing death by careless driving while under the influence of drink or drugs.
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The prosecution opened their case and Miss Williams’s father Nigel also gave evidence at Warrington Crown Court on Wednesday (May 5).
Benjamin Myers, prosecuting, said the defendant played a ‘significant part’ in her death.
The pair had been arguing as they drove home from a family meal at The Old Trooper Harvester pub in Christleton.
Mr Myers said: “This is a very sad case, but you must consider the evidence as dispassionately as you can in order to come to a just verdict which is fair to everyone.
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“The fact is he was speeding, he had been drinking and had been distracted by an argument.
“The prosecution say in this situation his driving was below the standard of a competent and safe driver.
“He was responsible for this crash and for the death of Claudia WIlliams and that makes him guilty of this offence.”
Bromley, who was 20 years old at the time of the crash, denies he was speeding along School Lane.
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He told police he and Miss Williams were arguing in the car before she had shoved his arm, which caused him to veer onto the curb.
Witness Lauren Edge told the court Bromley, who she knew of through school, had said ‘Lauren, I f***ed up‘ as he lay on the road waiting for emergency services to arrive.
Miss Edge added she did not ask for clarification about what he meant, as it ‘seemed like a reasonable thing to say’ in the aftermath.
Three-and-a-half hours after the crash the defendant was found to have 111mg of alcohol in his blood, over the legal limit of 80mg.
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Miss Williams was also not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the collision.
Mr Myers said: “Whatever the reason for that, it doesn’t relieve Richard Bromley of the requirement to drive safely.
“Whether she did or didn’t shove his arm does not exonerate him either.”
Nigel Williams said he had met his daughter and her boyfriend at the Harvester in Christleton for a family meal with them and her two youngers sisters.
He said Miss Williams had been ‘emotional’ and a ‘bit tearful’ after walking out of the pub because of an argument with her siblings.
Phillip Lucas QC, defending, said Bromley had always been respectful towards his girlfriend’s father and had never given him any reason to be concerned about him taking risks with her safety.
Mr Williams agreed, he said he had seen the defendant drink two pints of lager in total during their time at the pub.
Judge Neil Flewitt is presiding in the trial, after the jury were sworn in he told them they were ‘responsible for deciding the facts of this case’.
The trial at Warrington Crown Court continues.
