A timetable has been set in the case of a man accused of causing the death of a mum-of-four who was crushed by a runaway van.

Mohammed Karani appeared at Leeds Crown Court yesterday for a preliminary hearing on the charge of causing the death by careless driving on April 6 of Shabana Ahmed, 46.

Mrs Ahmed was struck and fatally injured as she walked three of her children home from school. Two of her children were also injured. Karani, of Park Close, Batley, was not in the vehicle at the time of the incident but had left the van parked in Swindon Road, Dewsbury.

Robin Frieze, defending him, said it would be his case that he had parked as carefully as he could and expert evidence is expected to be called about the handbrake on the vehicle.

A plea and case management hearing was fixed for February 20 and a trial date for July 7. Karani was bailed by the Recorder of Leeds, Judge Peter Collier QC, who told him he must provide a defence case statement by the next hearing.