Baby, 18 days, killed after uninsured hit-and-run driver smashed into his pram

An uninsured hit-and-run driver killed an 18-day-old baby when he ploughed into his pram while speeding in a 30mph zone, a court heard.

James Paul Davis, 35, is accused of killing premature baby Ciaran Leigh Morris who died when he was hit by a car on his first ever outing on Easter Sunday last year.

A court heard Davis was driving a BMW at 67mph in a 30mph zone moments before he smashed into the pram being wheeled by parents Camaron Morris and Codie Holyman.

The parents, both aged 18 at the time, watched in horror as the car mounted the kerb and pinned the pram against a wall in Brownhills, Walsall, West Midlands.

Passers-by tried to revive Cianan, but the baby died in hospital just a few hours later from his injuries.

Davis, of Bloxwich, West Midlands, denies causing death by dangerous driving, causing death while uninsured and causing death by careless driving.

Wolverhampton Crown Court heard that he had been driving without insurance or a licence when he ploughed into Ciaran's pram at 4pm on 4 April last year.

Family members wept as CCTV of the fatal crash was shown on the first day of Davis's trial on Monday.

Jurors heard the BMW collided with a white Ford before careering into the pram and pinning it against a shop wall.

James Curtis QC, prosecuting, said Davis fled the scene before telling a passer-by he had “killed a baby” and would be "going down for a long time".

He then called police and claimed he had passed out at the wheel after suffering a coughing fit, jurors heard.

Curtis described the moment the collision took place. He said: "He veers over centre line he, was doing at least the driving limit and hit an oncoming car, the BMW swerved in a curve and onto the opposite pavement.

"There a couple were walking their new baby, the car hit the pram and caused fatal injuries to head and body of the child, who died in hospital later that day."

Curtis said that Davis then jumped out of the car and ran off on foot, down an alleyway, past a petrol station and through some undergrowth.

"Once at a safe distance he approached a passer-by saying he killed a baby and was going down for a long time," he continued.

"He dialled 999 and was arrested in due course.

"The only explanation he gave was he had a coughing fit and passed out. He then gave no comment to all questions at police station.”

The court heard that Davis claimed he had passed out at the wheel which caused him to lose control of the car before the crash.

Curtis said: "Experts have looked at if there could have been malfunction to his heart that could account for his story. There was no such problem.

"He was fully fit, heavily built and he was clear headed enough to invent an excuse.

"This was a classic intentional distraction with fatal consequences, nor there was any mechanical defect on the car.

Read More From Yahoo News UK:

Why it's so important you remember to read your gas and electricity meters this week

Keir Starmer speaks out on disastrous royal tour and Prince William’s slavery apology

Dawn Butler: Labour MP reveals breast cancer diagnosis

"Not many moments earlier, in this 30mph area, he had been driving at 67mph where people were bound to be. He was driving at 67mph, nearly top speed for a motorway. About 16 seconds before the collision. He then slowed down to 44mph."

The prosecutor said that Davis had decelerated from his high speed and veered into the path of the oncoming Ford.

"His airbag inflates. He careers straight across the road and into the pram," he added. "There’s no evidence of emergency braking in any of that vehicles tyre tread.

"This was certainly dangerous driving. Clear disregard for the rules. Clear disregard for those around. He was not even insured, not even third party insurance."

The court heard that before hitting the pram, Davis’s car struck a white Ford and the driver chased him as he fled the scene.

Curtis said: “He did not catch him but he did film him, running, on his mobile phone.”

Camaron, who worked at McDonald's, and Codie, a barmaid, had been together for two years before finding out they were expecting Ciaran who was born early on 17 March, 2021.