A Metropolitan Police officer has been found not guilty of causing the deaths of a 10-year-old boy and his aunt during a car chase in south-east London. PC Edward Welch, 34, from Chatham, Kent, was cleared of two counts of causing death by dangerous driving following a trial at the Old Bailey.
The incident occurred in August 2016 in Penge, when PC Welch was pursuing a stolen car driven by 19-year-old Joshua Dobby. The stolen vehicle mounted the pavement on Lennard Road, hitting a bollard and crushing Makayah McDermott and Rozanne Cooper, who both died. Another 10-year-old child was seriously injured.
The jury deliberated for half a day before returning not guilty verdicts on all charges, including causing serious injury by dangerous driving and an alternative charge of dangerous driving. Dobby was later jailed for two counts of manslaughter by gross negligence and one count of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said its 2017 investigation found PC Welch may have breached professional standards during the pursuit and after the collision. The Met Police confirmed it would now consider misconduct matters against the officer. Ch Supt David Stringer expressed condolences to the victims' families, stating that police pursuits must be carried out carefully to avoid risk.
