A deputy head teacher at an exclusive private school was cleared amid angry scenes of blame in the tragic road death of a popular ex-DJ killed when his scooter collided with a people-carrier.
Schoolteacher Carl Phillip Lander, 39, of The Moat, Toot Hill, Ongar, was found not guilty of causing the death, by careless driving, of 33 year-old father-of-two Shane Stanfield at the junction of Epping New Road and Woodford Green High Road on October 20, 2008.
Mr. Stanfield, (pic. top) of Rounton Road, Waltham Abbey, suffered multiple rib fractures and fatal internal injuries after colliding with a VW Caravelle – driven by Lander - which turned across his path.
He was rushed to Whipps Cross Hospital, Leytonstone, but was pronounced dead shortly afterwards.
Lander, (pic. bottom) head of Seniors at St. Aubyn’s prep school, in Bunces Lane, Woodford Green, did not give evidence during the four-day trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court, leaving bereaved relatives believing he was more concerned with saving his reputation than telling the truth.
Members of Mr. Stanfield’s family had attended every day trial at and shouts of abuse including “piece of shit” were directed towards Lander when the jury announced its verdict.
Outside, Mr. Stanfield’s mother, Betty Clarke, 56, of Holloway, North London said: “I am very disappointed. It is a complete farce.
“We are fifteen months down the line and we have not had any answers as to who killed my only son.
“My question now is who did kill Shane, because fifteen months later I am none the wiser.”
“A lot of what was said during the trial was character references about his career as a schoolteacher, but Shane had a job, he was on the way to work when this happened.
“The one thing he was protecting was his licence and his job,” added Mrs Clarke. “I am not happy with the outcome. Justice was not done.”
When police attended the tragedy Lander simply told officers he did not see Mr. Stanfield approaching on his scooter as he made a right turn.
The prosecution failed to convince the jury beyond all reasonable doubt that this manoeuvre was ‘careless’ or that not using his windscreen wipers in light rain was equally negligent.
Prosecutor Mr. David Tomlinson had told jurors at the start of the trial: “The defendant did tell police he had not had his windscreen wipers on. It is the sort of thing that may have contributed to him not seeing this scooter coming towards him which he should have done.”
“We are talking here about a case where somebody lost his life,” Mr. Tomlinson told the court, explaining there is no reasonable excuse for Lander not spotting the Yamaha scooter rider as he turned right.
It was 6.25pm when the tragedy occurred, the jury heard. “There is no doubt these two vehicles were driving towards each other as the defendant wished to make a right turn putting him in the path of the oncoming traffic. He had a clear duty to wait.
“Unhappily here he executed the right turn at the same time Mr. Stanfield’s little scooter got too close to him,” explained Mr. Tomlinson. “He drove across the path of the scooter and it was not possible for Mr. Stanfield to stop in time.
“Mr. Stanfield braked, locking his front wheel, and the scooter went down on its side and started to slide.
“Mr. Stanfield got separated from the scooter and they were carried into the near-side of the defendant’s vehicle.
“He suffered multiple fractures to his ribs and died a short time afterwards of internal injuries.
“The death of this man was caused, of course, by this man’s driving,” added Mr. Tomlinson.
“What happened here was over in a split-second or a second or two at the most, but of course it was a life-changing event.”
Investigating officers later quizzed Lander. “He told the police he did not see Mr. Stanfield’s scooter coming towards him.
“The scooter was available to be seen,” said Mr. Tomlinson. “It is the prosecution case it could not have been missed by a competent and careful driver at the time.”
Mr. Stanfield had just overtaken a white Ford Transit van driven by eyewitness Alan Gibson who told police the rider may have been exceeding the 30 mph speed limit.
“The rider may have been doing more than 30 mph, but nothing like enough to explain the misjudgement of this defendant,” added Mr. Tomlinson.
At the time of his death Mr. Stanfield left behind partner Kelly and sons Connor, 7 and Ronnie aged 11 months.
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