THE driver of the car that hit Coventry police officer Christopher Burnham, causing devastating injuries, is no longer facing an allegation that he was trying to kill him.
Tekle Lennox (37) of no fixed address, had pleaded not guilty at Warwick Crown Court in November last year to the attempted murder of Pc Burnham.
The charge followed an incident which took place at the junction of Burnaby Road and Holbrooks Lane, in Holbrooks, Coventry, on the afternoon of September 25.
Having got out of a police car, Pc Burnham was hit by a Mini being driven by Lennox.
As a result of that, the married officer, who has a ten-year-old son, suffered a fractured skull, a bleed on the brain and a shattered knee.
He was in an induced coma in hospital for some time, but by the time of that hearing in November he was out of hospital.
The case was adjourned for trial, which is due to begin early next month.
But at a pre-trial hearing prosecutor Andrew Smith QC said the indictment had been revised – and Lennox was no longer facing the allegation of attempted murder.
Mr Smith said that, having received expert evidence in relation to a collision investigation and Pc Burnham’s injuries, there was a revised indictment.
As a result, Lennox was now facing trial on charges of causing grievous bodily harm with intent to resist arrest and causing serious injury by driving while disqualified.
Mr Smith said the defence had no objections to the revised indictment, but did not want Lennox to be arraigned to allow time for his trial barrister to discuss the charges with him.
So Judge Peter Cooke adjourned the case for trial, but said the defence lawyers should inform the court what pleas Lennox would be entering to those charges by February 24.
