A JURY has retired to consider their verdicts in a death by dangerous driving trial.

On June 10, 2020, a Deliveroo cyclist was struck by a driver at the junction of Addington Road and Alexander Road at about 7.25pm.

Tomaz Krohme, 35, was ‘thrown’ off his bike and into a tree. He sadly died from the injuries he sustained.

READ MORE: Driver on trial charged with causing death of Deliveroo cyclist

Health care assistant Joshua Julian, 27, of Skinner Driver, Wokingham, pleaded not guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and drug driving.

He has been on trial at Reading Crown Court starting last week on Tuesday, May 9. After a week, the twelve-strong jury have retired today (May 16) to consider their verdict.

It is the Crown’s case that Julian, who was driving home after a shift at Royal Berkshire Hospital, was driving at 44mph in a 20mph speed limit zone. He was also found with namely 4.9ug/L of cannabis in his system.

He told police he was ‘surprised’ to have cannabis in his system and it has been suggested he took it the night before for insomnia.

A post-mortem examination of Mr Krohme also found that he was cycling with alcohol in his system - almost two and a half times the legal limit. An eyewitness said Mr Krohme was cycling ‘quite fast’ and 'didn’t stop' at the give way sign.

READ MORE: Man charged with death of Deliveroo cyclist couldn't 'recall' his speed

Closing the case, prosecutor William Eaglestone said: “It would be easy to conclude that the cause of this collision was Mr Krohme’s failure to give way.

“But it has been shown that Mr Julian’s excessive speed was a significant contributing factor to the level of injuries sustained.

“If he had been travelling at 20mph, the collision could have been avoided. At the very least, Mr Julian cannot say he was going at 20mph.”

Defending Julian, his barrister said: “There’s nothing about [Julian] to suggest he’s a dishonest or dodgy man.

“If you find Joshua Julian not guilty, the only judgment you’re making as jurors is to say that having heard the evidence on the indictment we’re not sure that he’s guilty of those two charges.

“There’s no criticism of anyone. There’s no criticism of Mr Krohme and the way he cycled down that hill, there’s no criticism of the police, there’s no criticism of the prosecution.”

READ MORE: Driver caught speeding on M4 in Berkshire

He added that if Julian had been impaired while driving, police would have flagged it at the scene.

It is unknown how long it will take the jury to reach a verdict.

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