Drug death trial delayed as accused's mum is hit by car

THE re-trial of two men accused of selling drugs which killed a teenager was delayed after a defendant's mother was hit by a car.

Chris Pawley, 24, and Alec Gallagher, 18, are on trial for supplying ecstasy which killed Kieran Lindsey in June last year.

But Gallagher was late for Lewes Crown Court this morning (Thursday) after his mother was run over.

Defending Gallagher, George Hepburn-Scott explained: "This morning Mr Gallagher was on his way to Three Bridges station when he was told his mother had been hit by a car in Crawley town centre.

"His mother is an alcoholic and this kind of thing apparently does happen quite often.

"It transpired that she refused to get into the ambulance and had in fact gone back to the pub.

"She has got an injury to her leg but she is ok."

Mr Hepburn-Scott added: "He says he is sorry and will be here as soon as possible."

Gallagher, from Ifield, accepted the trial would have to begin in his absence.

Pawley and Gallagher both deny supplying a class A drug.

A previous trial at Brighton Crown Court collapsed after the jury failed to reach a verdict for either defendant.

Opening the prosecution's case, Scott Brady told the jury: "The crown here do not assert that the defendants caused the death of Kieran Lindsey.

"This case is solely about the simple matter of being concerned in the supply of ecstasy."

Speaking about MDMA, the pure form of ecstasy which killed 18-year-old Kieran, Mr Brady added: "The defendants went to get it, they transported it to the party and they distributed it."

Kieran, of Barnfield Road, Northgate, died on June 7 last year after a party at a house in Sundew Close, Broadfield.

Mr Brady said he would also bring evidence that Pawley, from Furnace Green, objected to an ambulance being called and forced Kieran's friends to move him away from the house before calling 999.

The trial continues.