PROSECUTION and defence lawyers gave their closing speeches today in the trial of a doctor accused of causing the death of a Cwmbran biker.

Vincent Hamlyn, aged 33, of Sedbury Hill, Tutshill, near Chepstow, is on trial accused of causing the death of Kevin Morgan by dangerous driving on June 21 last year. He has pleaded not guilty.

Mr Morgan, 60, from Cwmbran, died at the scene of the collision with a black convertible BMW Z4, driven by Hamlyn, on the A449 outside Newport, just off the Coldra roundabout. He had been riding his white Kawasaki motorbike at the time.

The prosecution alleges that Hamlyn was driving at 62 miles per hour, more than 20 miles over the speed limit of the A449, while accepting that Mr Morgan was riding at 56 miles per hour.

Summing up the prosecution case at Cardiff Crown Court this morning, following six days of evidence, Matthew Roberts acknowledged that the defendant was someone of “impeccable character” but alleged that he played a part in the death of Mr Morgan after “jostling for position”.

He said: “There was an engagement with the bike at the traffic lights and a gauntlet was thrown down. The defendant was fully aware of the bike and where it was going. He accepted the challenge.

“Dr Hamlyn’s normally high standards fell in that split second and had tragic consequences. He was used to saving lives, not contributing to taking them.

“Ironically, if Dr Hamlyn had kept in the 40 miles per hour limit and Kevin Morgan lived, it would be him in the dock today and Dr Hamlyn would be a witness.

“Kevin Morgan may have a higher degree of blame but that does not absolve the defendant for his conduct.”

Michael Mather-Lees QC, defending, highlighted the evidence of Martin Rood, the former police constable, who was behind the motorbike and the BMW at the set of traffic lights before the collision.

Yesterday, Mr Rood said that there was "no Grand Prix start” and that the car had “moved off smoothly, quietly”.

Mr Mather-Lees said: “There’s not a shred of evidence that the BMW deviated from the chosen path and jostled for position.

“Dr Hamlyn has geared his whole existence to saving lives. Why would he be prepared to drive in such a way?

“Dr Hamlyn went above the speed limit but he didn’t jostle at all. Dangerous driving cannot be found in speed alone. That’s speeding.

“He doesn’t even outpace the bike and is not using the car’s maximum accelerative capacity or anything near it.

“You don’t have to be a Formula 1 driver to hit the gas and floor the accelerator. It does not make sense.”

Proceeding.