During the second day of the Royal Court trial of Rebekah Le Gal, transcripts of the 39-year-old’s second police interview were read out.
She denies one count of causing the death of Clinton Pringle by dangerous driving.
When interviewed on the day of the collision – 27 June 2016 – the defendant did not mention using her phone.
But when she was interviewed again three months later she admitted sending a text message in the seconds before the crash but insisted it was a ‘measured act’ and did not cause the accident.
She said she slowed down and was still aware of her surroundings.
When asked during the second interview why she failed to mention the phone in the previous interview, she replied: ‘It was late. It was a long day. I was in deep shock.
‘I don’t know why I did not bring it up. I know that it had no bearing on the incident itself.
‘I can only put it down to the shock of the matter. I know it had no bearing on what happened at the time of the incident.’
Clinton, who was in the Island on holiday with his mother Stacey, died in Southampton Hospital three days after the collision in Tunnell Street.
The trial continues.
Full story in Wednesday’s JEP.
