Driver changes plea after hitting and carrying 89-year-old man on car roof in Gillingham
A motorist has changed his plea to admit death by dangerous driving after hitting an 89-year-old man and continuing with him on top of the car for almost a mile, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has confirmed.
Retired dental surgeon Thomas Wallace was struck by a grey Mercedes estate on the A289 Gads Hill in Gillingham, Kent, just after 12pm on December 29 last year.
He was found on Grange Road in the Medway town, almost a mile from where he was hit, and died at the scene.
Last Friday, two men, who police say are Albanian nationals, appeared at Maidstone Crown Court to enter their pleas.
At that time, Albert Matraxhiu, 29, Edgware, north London, denied causing death by dangerous driving, which he has now admitted.
He, and Erald Paci, 29, of Five Ways Court, Chatham, Kent, both also admitted intention to pervert the course of justice after the collision.
The CPS said Matraxhiu was left with "no option" but to ask for the case to be relisted on Monday, for him to change his plea.
The Mercedes was found near the scene and the two occupants fled, disposing of their phones, clothes and the car's number plates.
Sarah Wilkinson, senior prosecutor from the Crown Prosecution Service, said: "Since the case was first submitted to us, the Crown Prosecution Service has worked closely with our police colleagues to build the strongest possible case against both defendants.
"In the end, this left Matraxhiu with no option but to plead guilty to all the charges against him just over a month after the collision took place.
"Our thoughts remain with Mr Wallace's family and friends at this terrible time."
In a tribute released through the police, Mr Wallace's family, some of whom were in court on Friday, said he had recently become a great-grandfather.
"He was a respected and loved member of the community and deserved a better end to his life than this," they said.
Matraxhiu has also admitted driving without insurance, driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence, failure to stop after an accident, and failure to report an accident.
He and Paci have been remanded in custody and will be sentenced on March 20.