Crimes NEWS

Guilt-ridden father’s suicide after teenage son kills two friends in car he bought as present

Published by admin on October 20, 2009

A guilt-ridden father committed suicide after his teenage son killed two schoolfriends in a car he had bought for him, a court has heard.

Businessman Alan Baker gave 17-year-old Matthew the Peugeot 106 within weeks of the teenager passing his test.

Driver: Matthew Baker, right, with Max Dixon. Baker was jailed for two years after killing his friends

Passengers James Moodie and Max Dixon, both 17, died when Baker lost control and slammed into another car as he tried to take a bend on a country road at more than 60mph. He told a paramedic: ‘I drive everywhere at 70mph.’

Baker was locked up for two years after a judge said the fact that the case ‘piled tragedy upon tragedy’ could not save him from custody.

The crash in September last year happened as the three friends were returning from a night out.

Nottingham Crown Court heard that other motorists reported seeing Baker driving recklessly before the crash in a lane in Blidworth, Nottinghamshire.

One told police that after seeing him trigger an electronic ‘Slow down’ sign he thought: ‘My God, he’s going to kill someone.’ Ford Mondeo driver Andrew Hicks said he saw ‘a flash of blue and bright lights’ before Baker’s car slammed sideways into his.

Max, the front-seat passenger, and James, sitting in the rear, died almost instantaneously.

Six weeks after the tragedy, Baker’s father committed suicide during a family holiday in Tenerife.

Max Dixon+ James Moodie

Killed: Max Dixon (left) and James Moodie died in the car crash

The 53-year-old was found floating in the sea after failing to return from a walk.

Michael Auty, prosecuting, said: ‘He left a note that began by saying he had let his son down.’

The three friends were pupils at Minster School in Southwell. Mr Auty said of James and Max: ‘You could not have wished to find two more decent people with brighter futures’. Baker, now 18, of Farnsfield, Nottinghamshire, admitted two charges of causing death by dangerous driving.

The teenager, who wept throughout the hearing, was sentenced to two years’ detention and banned from driving for six years.

Judge Michael Stokes QC told him: ‘It is clear that, apart from the way you drove that night, you are a decent, intelligent and worthwhile young man.

‘These cases are most difficult for any judge to have to sentence - and this one in particular, with tragedy piled upon tragedy.

‘But in the final analysis you have to accept responsibility. You were driving recklessly.’ ( source: DailyMail )

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