A SPEEDING driver who killed a 64-year-old woman as she was crossing the road has been warned to expect an immediate prison sentence.
Florin Firulescu had pleaded not guilty at Warwick Crown Court to causing the death of Prakash Kaur in December last year by dangerous driving.
His trial was not due to take place until May next year, but at a further hearing Firulescu (50) of Brandon Lane, Coventry, changed his plea to guilty.
The charge follows a tragic collision in Foleshill Road, Coventry, at just after 4pm on December 14, when 64-year-old Mrs Kaur was struck by Firulescu’s blue Subaru.
Firulescu was arrested at the scene, where Mrs Kaur died of her injuries, and the court had heard the issue in the trial was to have been whether his driving was dangerous.
Beth Crocker, defending, had explained after his original not guilty plea that Firulescu did not accept he was speeding, and did not accept the prosecution’s calculation of his speed.
“He says the car was suffering mechanical difficulties, and he was on his way to the garage, and he says it could not have reached that speed,” Miss Crocker added.
But at the latest hearing his barrister Ian Speed, who had asked for the charge to be put to him again, said the guilty plea had been entered on the full facts of the prosecution case.
At Mr Speed’s request, the case was adjourned until the New Year for a pre-sentence report to be prepared on Firulescu.
Judge Peter Cooke granted him bail – but warned him that he should ‘expect an immediate custodial sentence.’
