A woman is to face a crown court trial over the death of a cyclist in central London after the public raised tens of thousands of pounds to cover the legal costs of a private prosecution.
Fellow cyclists raised more than £60,000 on a crowdfunding website to bring the woman accused of killing Michael Mason to court, in what is understood to be a first in British legal history.
Mr Mason, 70, from Kentish Town, suffered “severe traumatic brain injury” after being hit from behind in Regent Street in February 2014.
The stand-in-teacher, who worked at The Grey Coat Hospital girls’ school in Westminster, survived for 19 days before his life support machine was turned off.
Gail Purcell, 58, appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court today and denied causing the death of Mr Mason by driving without due care and attention on February 25, 2014.
She was allegedly speeding when she collided with Mr Mason, causing his fatal injuries, the court heard.
District judge Kenneth Grant, sitting at Westminster Magistrates' Court, today allowed the rare private prosecution of Ms Purcell to proceed.
The funds were raised by the Cyclists’ Defence Fund, with the backing of Mr Mason's family.
The judge refused jurisdiction, saying the case was so serious that it had to be tried at crown court.
The case, which was adjourned until October 11, was brought after the Metropolitan police declined to press charges.
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