Medical evidence forces review of taxi death fall

Kristian Holgate, 17, who had muscular dystrophy, died nearly a month after he was thrown from his wheelchair while travelling in Rahim Dad's taxi.

An inquest has already heard that the teenager was on a journey from his home in Highfield Road, Rastrick, near Halifax, to Huddersfield New College when the incident happened on February 9, 2009.

At the inquest a medical expert said that Kristian was severely obese and died from natural causes, but Coroner Roger Whittaker adjourned the hearing after the teenager's parents said they wanted a second opinion.

Dad, 45, of Fir Road, Huddersfield, appeared before a judge at Bradford Crown Court yesterday for a plea and case management hearing.

But Stephen Wood, prosecuting, applied for the matter to be adjourned so that further consideration could be given to reports by two other pathologists.

Mr Wood indicated that consideration would then be given as to whether Dad should be charged with other offences relating to the incident.

Judge Peter Benson described it as a very troubling case and granted Dad unconditional bail to appear at the crown court again on September 24 for his adjourned plea and case management hearing.

The inquest at Halifax Coroner's Court heard a statement from Kristian's mother, Ann.

She said: "The driver called me and said Kristian had come out of his wheelchair.

"I shouted down the phone for him to call an ambulance."

Mrs Holgate and Kristian's father, Kevin, rushed to the scene on New Hey Road near the Ainley Top roundabout, Huddersfield.

Mrs Holgate said: "The ambulance people were there and we could see Kristian lying with his head partially beneath the front seat.

"He was lying in a pool of blood with a huge cut to his head and he was complaining that his left knee was hurting."

Kristian was taken to Huddersfield Royal Infirmary where X-rays showed he had a cracked bone in his knee.

He was discharged from hospital, but became increasingly anxious over the following weeks.

On March 1, he passed out at home and was rushed to Calderdale Royal Hospital where he died.