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| Charlie Alliston trial: Cyclist accused over woman's death gives evidence | Charlie Alliston trial: Cyclist accused over woman's death gives evidence |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A cyclist accused of killing a woman by ploughing into her on his racing bike has told a court that having a front brake "would have made no difference". | A cyclist accused of killing a woman by ploughing into her on his racing bike has told a court that having a front brake "would have made no difference". |
| Charlie Alliston, then aged 18, was allegedly going at 18mph when he hit Kim Briggs as she crossed Old Street in Shoreditch, London, in February 2016. | Charlie Alliston, then aged 18, was allegedly going at 18mph when he hit Kim Briggs as she crossed Old Street in Shoreditch, London, in February 2016. |
| Mr Alliston, who denies manslaughter, was riding a fixed wheel track bike with no front brake at the time. | Mr Alliston, who denies manslaughter, was riding a fixed wheel track bike with no front brake at the time. |
| The crash could have been avoided if one had been fitted, prosecutors say. | The crash could have been avoided if one had been fitted, prosecutors say. |
| Mrs Briggs, a 44-year-old HR consultant, suffered "catastrophic" head injuries and later died in hospital, the trial at the Old Bailey has heard. | Mrs Briggs, a 44-year-old HR consultant, suffered "catastrophic" head injuries and later died in hospital, the trial at the Old Bailey has heard. |
| Mr Alliston, who is now 20, is said to have shouted at the mother of two as she lay mortally injured, later blaming her for the collision in posts he made online. | Mr Alliston, who is now 20, is said to have shouted at the mother of two as she lay mortally injured, later blaming her for the collision in posts he made online. |
| He told the court he had had no idea there was a legal requirement for his bike to have a front brake. | |
| "I tried to go around," said Mr Alliston, who alleges Mrs Briggs was using a mobile phone at the time of the collision. | "I tried to go around," said Mr Alliston, who alleges Mrs Briggs was using a mobile phone at the time of the collision. |
| "Having a brake, I wouldn't have had enough time to pull it," he said. | "Having a brake, I wouldn't have had enough time to pull it," he said. |
| "It was a few split seconds prior to the impact, which caused the impact, so a brake at the time wouldn't have made a difference." | "It was a few split seconds prior to the impact, which caused the impact, so a brake at the time wouldn't have made a difference." |
| Jurors were told that Mr Alliston talked of removing his front brake from a previous bike in a tweet in February 2015, comparing the experience of riding it to being in a "Lucas Brunelle movie". | |
| The court heard that Brunelle is a stunt cyclist who makes videos in which he rides around cities including London "doing dangerous stuff" such as weaving in and out of traffic. | |
| But Mr Alliston, who said he had not been wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, denied copying the filmmaker, or that he enjoyed taking risks. | |
| "I wouldn't say I drove recklessly or at any time dangerously," the defendant said. | |
| "At all times I would know what I'm doing and completely responsible for my actions." | |
| He added: "I did not get a kick or enjoyment out of not being safe." | |
| Mr Alliston, from Bermondsey, is also accused of causing bodily harm to Mrs Briggs by "wanton or furious driving", under the 1861 Offences Against the Person Act. | |
| The trial continues. | The trial continues. |