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Crash driver felt "pressurised" Crash driver felt "pressurised"
(30 minutes later)
A teenager accused of killing four girls in a car crash told police he felt "pressurised" to take them for a drive, Cardiff Crown Court has heard.A teenager accused of killing four girls in a car crash told police he felt "pressurised" to take them for a drive, Cardiff Crown Court has heard.
Craig Ramshaw, 18, from Ebbw Vale, said he "gave in" and carried five passengers in the Vauxhall Corsa.Craig Ramshaw, 18, from Ebbw Vale, said he "gave in" and carried five passengers in the Vauxhall Corsa.
Back seat passengers Louise Jones and Kayleigh Parry, both 16, and Katie Roberts and Danielle Caswell, 15, died in the crash on a mountain road.Back seat passengers Louise Jones and Kayleigh Parry, both 16, and Katie Roberts and Danielle Caswell, 15, died in the crash on a mountain road.
Mr Ramshaw denies causing the deaths by dangerous driving.Mr Ramshaw denies causing the deaths by dangerous driving.
The prosecution alleges Mr Ramshaw was "showing off" as he drove his mother's car at "considerable speed" three days after passing his test.The prosecution alleges Mr Ramshaw was "showing off" as he drove his mother's car at "considerable speed" three days after passing his test.
Mr Ramshaw and another teenage front seat passenger were both wearing seat belts and survived the crash on a mountain road with minor injuries.Mr Ramshaw and another teenage front seat passenger were both wearing seat belts and survived the crash on a mountain road with minor injuries.
Quite persistent The girls who died were all pupils and friends at Glyncoed Comprehensive School, Ebbw Vale.
The girls who died were all pupils and friends at Glyncoed Comprehensive School, Ebbw Vale . The trial heard in police interviews how he had called at Kayleigh's house on the evening of the crash last November, with a 17-year-old friend in the front passenger seat.
On Friday the trial heard in police interviews how he had called at Kayleigh Parry's house on the evening of the crash last November, with a 17-year-old friend in the front passenger seat. I know it was wrong but as they were quite persistent, I took them Why Craig Ramshaw took the girls for a drive, according to evidence
Mr Ramshaw said he had offered to take the girls out before his friend asked him to pick him up, and that he did not to drive with all of them in the car. Mr Ramshaw said he had offered to take the girls out before his friend asked him to pick him up, and that he did not want to drive with all of them in the car.
"They asked me if I could go for a drive," he said in police interviews."They asked me if I could go for a drive," he said in police interviews.
"They were quite persistent. They wanted to go out. I was thinking about it and I didn't really want to take them."They were quite persistent. They wanted to go out. I was thinking about it and I didn't really want to take them.
The jury has already been to see the spot where the girls died
"I felt quite pressurised really and I did.""I felt quite pressurised really and I did."
He said he had been friends with Kayleigh for between six and seven months and often spoke to her over the internet, but did not know the other three girls as well.He said he had been friends with Kayleigh for between six and seven months and often spoke to her over the internet, but did not know the other three girls as well.
In the interview, Mr Ramshaw said the girls kept asking for a ride in the car, and that they were cold standing outside.In the interview, Mr Ramshaw said the girls kept asking for a ride in the car, and that they were cold standing outside.
"They asked me several times. It wasn't just once, " he told police."They asked me several times. It wasn't just once, " he told police.
When asked why he had decided to take them in his car, Mr Ramshaw replied: "I don't know. I think it was just because they were asking so many times. I just gave in and let them in.When asked why he had decided to take them in his car, Mr Ramshaw replied: "I don't know. I think it was just because they were asking so many times. I just gave in and let them in.
Seatbelts
He took the four girls and his front passenger for a drive on a mountain road between Llangynidr and Garnlydan, where Kayleigh lived, but told them it would be short.He took the four girls and his front passenger for a drive on a mountain road between Llangynidr and Garnlydan, where Kayleigh lived, but told them it would be short.
He told police: "I know it was wrong but as they were quite persistent, I took them. I said I'd take them for a short drive but I knew it was unsafe."He told police: "I know it was wrong but as they were quite persistent, I took them. I said I'd take them for a short drive but I knew it was unsafe."
The driver and front seat passenger had both been wearing seat belts and escaped with minor injuries, the jury was told. Mr Ramshaw told police that although he had told one girl to sit on another's lap so they could both be fastened in with a seatbelt, he did not check if they were wearing seatbelts.
On Thursday, the Cardiff trial was told that, speaking to police officers from his hospital bed on the night of the crash, Mr Ramshaw said he had lost control when going up a hill. He took them for a drive, and said he had been about to take them home when one girl asked if they could be driven over the Llangynidr mountain, as they wanted to stay out.
I was always okay. I was in control of the car. What Craig Ramshaw told, according to evidence
The apprentice plumber said the four girls had been "laughing and joking" in the back seat and singing along to music in the moments before the fatal crash.
He told police the music had not been loud, and that he had been concentrating on the road ahead.
Mr Ramshaw said he put his headlights on full-beam and described driving on the mountain as "good".
He said: "I was always okay. I was in control of the car. I wasn't going too fast."
The jury heard that his car's thermometer recorded the temperature as minus 2C, and that he presumed conditions were icy
He said that half-way across the mountain he decided he wanted to return, and performed a three-point turn.
He had just reached a hill when he claims to have "lost control" of the vehicle.
He said: "I can only just remember the car skidding. I can't remember anything after that."
Mr Ramshaw, who said he had driven on the road once before the accident, told police he had been travelling at between 30mph and 40mph.
As he reached the brow of the hill, Ramshaw said he had just gone into fourth gear but was not driving fast.
He said: "I remember losing control of the car. I felt like my back left wheel had skidded. Anything after that I can't remember."
He added: "Before the skidding, the girls were just laughing and joking. I can't remember anything after, or during."
The trial continues.The trial continues.