Shipston triple fatal trial date set for man charged in teens’ deaths

A court date has been set for a man accused of causing death by careless driving after three teenagers were killed in Warwickshire. Harry Purcell, Matilda Seccombe and Frank Wormald died in an accident near Shipston in April 2023.

Edward Spencer, 18, from Newbold on Stour, appeared at Warwick Crown Court yesterday (Thursday, June 13). A judge accepted a request for the 18-year-old to enter a plea at a later date, Warwickshire Police said.

Spencer was charged with three counts of causing death by careless or reckless driving and three counts of causing serious injury by careless or reckless driving. An arraignment hearing date has been scheduled for Thursday, September 5, with a tentative trial date set for March 3, 2025.

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Spencer was the driver of a Ford Fiesta carrying three other teenagers as they returned home from Chipping Campden School in Gloucestershire. He was involved in an accident with a Fiat 500 on the B4035 Campden road.

A woman and two children, who were in the Fiat 500, suffered serious injuries in the crash, which happened at around 4.10pm on 21 April 2023. All three continue to receive treatment for their injuries.

Relatives of Harry Purcell previously said they were “devastated” by their loss, while the family of Matilda “Tilly” Seccombe said they were “absolutely devastated”. Chipping Campden headteacher John Sanderson described the teenagers as “wonderful” and said they were “deeply missed”.

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