Five face new charges over bike death crash (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Five bikers cleared of causing couple's deaths are back in court accused of dangerous driving

7:00am Tuesday 11th September 2012 in News By Steve Wright, Crime Reporter

Five motorcyclists, who were cleared of causing the deaths by dangerous driving of a Bradford solicitor and her husband, are facing new charges.

Helen Slater, 37, who worked for Bradford law firm Alistair Bateman and Co, and her 40-year-old builder husband Dean, were killed in August 2010, when they were thrown from their motorcycle after it was in a collision with a car on the eastbound slip road of the A64, near Tadcaster, North Yorkshire.

The couple, of Thornton , Bradford, had been travelling in a group with five other motorcyclists when the accident happened, with Mrs Slater riding pillion behind her husband.

The other bikers – Ian Towson, of Leafield Crescent, Eccleshill ; Paul Wheater, of Halifax Road, Cullingworth ; Michael Hannon, of Etna Street, Great Horton ; Dax Lerman, of Rycroft Avenue, Bingley ; and David Hastings, of Clough Fold, Keighley ; all in their 20s and 30s, were charged with causing the deaths of the Slaters by dangerous driving.

Last December a judge dismissed the charges against all five men.

But they have now been charged with dangerous driving.

A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said yesterday: “The defendants in this case have all been reported for summons for driving a motor vehicle dangerously. Their cases are now in the hands of the Court service.

“It would be inappropriate to comment further while proceedings are active.”

A spokesman at York Crown Court confirmed the five defendants had appeared there before Recorder Abdul Iqbal, all charged with dangerous driving.

Towson and Hastings had pleaded not guilty and had been committed for a two-week trial to Teesside Crown Court on a date to be fixed, along with Hannon, who did not enter a plea.

Wheater and Lerman pleaded guilty and will be sentenced following the trial and after probation reports. All five were granted unconditional bail.

The couple were killed a week after celebrating their wedding anniversary.

Mrs Slater was part of the mental health department at Bateman’s solicitors, and represented clients at crown and magistrates courts.