Bus driver cleared over lollipop lady's death » Local Government » 24dash.com

A bus driver has been cleared of knocking down and killing a lollipop lady.

Stephen Wilson, 57, was accused of causing death by dangerous driving after Stephanie Davies was knocked down outside a school.

He was behind the wheel of the single-deck M10 Arriva bus service when the incident happened on September 11 2006.

Mrs Davies had been standing at traffic lights outside Seedley County Primary School on Liverpool Street, Salford, where she worked as a lollipop lady.

Prosecutor Adrian Farrow had claimed Wilson suffered a coughing fit moments before the collision.

He told the jury that Wilson's defence would be that he had suffered a "microsleep" at the wheel but asked them to discount that.

On Thursday Judge Peter Lakin directed the jury of 10 women and two men at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court to find Wilson not guilty four days into the two-week trial.

Mrs Davies' husband Martin, who had come to meet her and collect their daughter Anna from school, was one of the first on the scene and was heard screaming "My wife, my wife" after seeing her underneath the vehicle.

Wilson, of Coniston Grove, Salford, denied the charge.

Mr Davies paid a tribute to a "wonderful" wife today. He said: "Steph was a warm, wonderful mother and wife. She loved working with children and lost her life doing a job she loved.

"She was well loved by the community, which was shocked by the event. The community have given us great family support since this event and I wish to pass on my thanks to them all."

A Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) spokesman said the judge directed the jury to find the defendant not guilty after inconsistent evidence from an expert prosecution witness.

The witness prepared a report for the CPS on the likelihood of the defendant having a medical condition which affected his driving.

In court the witness's evidence differed from the evidence in the report, leading the judge to direct the jury to return a not guilty verdict.

The CPS spokesman said: "When the defendant was charged with the offence, he did not suggest any medical condition that could have caused or contributed towards the accident.

"Shortly before the trial started, the defence served medical evidence which suggested that there may be an explanation for the accident.

"The CPS asked an expert witness for his opinion and based upon his report, continued with the prosecution of Mr Wilson.

"When the case came to court, the evidence he gave differed from his original report and as a result, the judge directed the jury to return a not guilty verdict."