Couple to stand trial after boy, 13, dies in crash

A man and a woman will stand trial in September after a 13-year-old boy died in a crash over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend.

Noah Campbell was killed in the collision between a car, a bike and a scooter in Flitwick, Bedfordshire, at 23:50 BST on Friday 3 April. Two other teenage boys were taken to hospital with serious injuries.

Jamie Fountain, 24, appeared at Northampton Crown Court on Tuesday accused of multiple offences, while Ellie Ireland pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to pervert the course of justice on Wednesday at the same court.

They will go on trial at Northampton Crown Court on 28 September, with the case expected to be heard over a week.

Fountain, of Fir Tree Close, Flitwick, has been charged with causing death by careless driving and causing death by careless driving while over the legal limit for alcohol and drugs.

He was also charged with two counts of causing serious injury by careless driving, failing to stop at the scene of an accident, failing to report an accident and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

He did not enter any pleas during Tuesday's hearing and will next appear in court on 17 July.

Ireland, of Wingate Drive, Ampthill, Bedfordshire, has been charged with conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

A previous court hearing was told Fountain, a groundworker, had been driving a BMW at the time of the crash.

Ireland, his girlfriend, who works as an EasyJet cabin crew member, was the passenger.

The pair, who were both remanded in custody at Luton Magistrates' Court last month, were originally due to appear at Luton Crown Court on 5 May before the case was moved to Northampton.

An inquest into Noah's death was opened and adjourned in April.

It heard he died from a traumatic brain injury shortly after the crash on Greenfield Road in Flitwick.

Bina Patel, the area coroner for Bedfordshire and Luton, opened and adjourned the inquest, saying it would be suspended until the outcome of the criminal investigation.

In a tribute to Noah issued via police, his family described him as a "fun, bright, handsome, athletic" boy who was "incredibly well-liked".

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