A14 crash: Jury in case of Sergejs Baikovs discharged
Sergejs Baikovs, of Tattersall Road, Boston, denies causing the death of Maurice Brame, of Tostock, near Bury St Edmunds, by careless or inconsiderate driving following a collision between his lorry and Mr Brame’s motorcycle on the A14 between Sproughton and the Copdock interchange in 2022.
The jury began deliberations at Ipswich Crown Court on Monday but on Tuesday, after more than four hours of deliberations, Judge Emma Peters discharged them when it became clear they would be unable, even if they were given further time, to reach a verdict.
Throughout the trial Baikovs, 34, maintained that he did not see Mr Brame’s motorcycle as he approached it and, until he saw the motorcycle and Mr Brame’s body in the road, he believed he had hit an animal or there had been a malfunction in his vehicle.
The 34-year-old said he had seen a ‘black object’ in the road, but he was confused by vibrations, jolting and lights coming from within the cab.
It is understood that the lorry’s emergency breaking system had been activated at the time.
In previous hearings the court was told Baikovs was not speeding at the time of the incident, was not using his mobile phone and was not under the influence of drink or drugs.
The court heard Mr Brame had an undiagnosed cardiovascular condition, which meant that he would have been “susceptible to sudden death at any time”.
Data collected from the Volvo lorry’s collision prevention system showed that Mr Brame’s motorbike had slowed from 25mph to 14mph at the moment it was struck, and was being driven in second gear.
Baikovs was originally charged with causing death by dangerous driving and causing death by careless/inconsiderate driving but, during a previous hearing, Judge Emma Peters directed the jury to find him not guilty of death by dangerous driving due to insufficient evidence.
Baikovs continued to deny death by careless or inconsiderate driving.
A further hearing will take place on August 25 to determine the future of the case.