PC Edward Welch, 34, denies causing the deaths of Rosanne Cooper, 34, and her 10-year-old nephew Makayah McDermott in August 2016 in Penge, Bromley, by driving recklessly.
In November, a Metropolitan Police officer will face trial for allegedly causing the deaths of a child actor and his aunt while pursuing the son of a billionaire pet food executive across a south-east London district.
PC Edward Welch, 34, denies causing the deaths of Rosanne Cooper, 34, and her 10-year-old nephew Makayah McDermott in Penge, Bromley, in August 2016 by driving recklessly.
Joshua Dobby, then 23 years old, was being pursued by police while driving at three times the speed limit, through red lights, and at more than 50 miles per hour in the other direction down a one-way street.
Dobby lost control of the stolen Ford Focus, climbed the sidewalk, and collided with a bollard before crashing into the Cooper family as they strolled to the park for ice cream.
Five years ago, he was convicted of two charges of manslaughter at the Old Bailey and sentenced to 12 years in prison.
Before he was imprisoned in March 2017, Dobby, the estranged son of rich pet food wholesaler Mark Dobby, sobbing, “I’m sincerely sorry for what I’ve done.”
He had never held a driver’s license and 53 prior offenses, one of which was for aggravated car theft.
When he was murdered, Makayah had been in an Asda advertisement and had just secured a starring part in a big new television series. He also acted alongside his sisters in a play of The Wizard of Oz.
Thursday at the Old Bailey in central London, PC Welch appeared in a grey suit with a blue tie.
Judge Mark Lucraft, Recorder of London, stated, “I believe everyone was working on the assumption that I would be your trial judge in this case.”
Tragic Makayah McDermott, 10, was killed in August 2016 in Penge, south-east London, when Joshua Dobby, then 23 years old, crashed into him and his family following a police pursuit.
Roseanne Cooper, age 34, was also killed in the collision, although her 13-year-old nieces and daughter Eva survived.
After the accident that killed Makayah McDermott and his aunt Rozanne Cooper, Dobby’s black automobile was parked on the street.
In actuality, a judge from the High Court will preside over the trial.
On August 31, 2016, PC Welch of Chatham, Kent, denies two counts of causing death by hazardous driving, one count of causing serious harm by dangerous driving, and one offence of dangerous driving.
He was released on bond prior to his trial on November 21.
Dobby’s vehicle collided with Ms. Cooper, her 13-year-old daughter Eva, and Makayah’s 13-year-old twin sisters Niyah and Yahla as they walked down a busy road in Penge.
The three girls were transported to the hospital with injuries, but they survived the collision.
As Dobby drove 70 miles per hour through a 30-mile-per-hour zone and 80 miles per hour through red lights in Penge, police abandoned their pursuit, the court was told.
Joshua Dobby, then 23 years old, was being pursued by police as he drove at three times the speed limit, through red lights, and at more than 50 miles per hour in the wrong direction down a one-way street before crashing into his family. He was sentenced to 12 years in prison after being found guilty of two charges of manslaughter.
Eight months after Dobby was imprisoned, the police watchdog, the IPCC, now known as the IOPC, stated it was launching an investigation and that the two officers engaged in the pursuit could face criminal charges.
Welch was the driver of a marked police vehicle that pursued Dobby’s vehicle, which collided with Makayah and Ms. Cooper.
A second officer who was present with PC Welch was not charged because the CPS determined there was no legal basis for prosecution.
Makayah received lead roles in shows at his south London drama school, while his twin sisters participated in a number of national advertising campaigns.
The three siblings all attended Beckham, south-east London’s Pop School and Stage Academy (PSSA).
Makayah had also performed at the Broadway Theatre in nearby Catford.
The accusations against PC Welch (seen today outside court) followed an inquiry by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) that lasted a year and concluded in August 2017.
Approximately 20 bystanders reportedly rushed to raise the car after the crash so that the twins could crawl out.
Dobby was sentenced to 12 years in prison consecutively after pleading guilty to two charges of manslaughter, three years and four months for inflicting serious injury by reckless driving on August 31, 2016, and 16 months for reckless driving five days earlier.
In addition, he was barred from driving for 15 years and must retake the driving exam.
The accusations against PC Welch were the result of an inquiry by the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC) that lasted one year and concluded in August 2017.
In August of 2017, the IOPC provided the Crown Prosecution Service with a dossier of evidence.
The file pertained to the activities of both PC Welch and the other officer involved during and after the pursuit.
Then, in June of 2019, an investigation determined that Dobby unlawfully murdered Makayah and Ms. Cooper.