Man pleads not guilty over crash that killed boy

Leo Painter died in hospital following the crash

A man has denied killing a six-year-old boy and two women by driving dangerously in a car alleged to have been taken without its owner's consent.

Joe-Lewis Tyler, 33, is accused over a crash involving a BMW 318 in which Leo Painter, 26-year-old Courtney Hemming, and 39-year-old Claire Adkins suffered fatal injuries.

Both women, who were travelling in a Ford Mondeo with Leo, were pronounced dead at the scene on the A44 Spetchley Road in Spetchley, Worcestershire, on 22 February, while Leo died in hospital.

Mr Tyler pleaded not guilty at Worcester Crown Court on Monday to three counts of causing death by dangerous driving, three of causing death while uninsured, one of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, and one of aggravated vehicle-taking.

Gemma Painter said she reached the hospital too late to say goodbye to her son

Leo had been living with foster carers but was due to be reunited with his mother, Gemma Painter.

Ms Painter, from Worcester, said at the time: "It has broken me that I will never see him again."

During Monday's court hearing, Mr Tyler, of Grenville Road, Worcester, spoke only to confirm his name and submit his eight not-guilty pleas via video-link.

There were 50 people - including relatives of those who died - watching the proceedings from the public gallery in court.

Judge James Burbidge KC fixed a trial date of 27 August.