A GRANGE MOOR mum whose son was killed in a traffic accident spoke of her "devastation" that the trial of the charged driver would not be over for weeks.

Harmail Singh, of Birkby, appeared at Huddersfield Magistrates' Court yesterday.

It was on June 10 last year that a silver Citroen Saxo was in collision with father- of-three Craig Marples at Leeds Road, Huddersfield.

The Mirfield man died in Huddersfield Royal Infirmary later that day.

Singh, 34, was found guilty in his absence of driving without due care and attention on February 21.

But on March 15 magistrates agreed to his request to reopen the case.

Yesterday , Singh pleaded not guilty to driving without due care and attention and guilty to two charges of having defective tyres.

Magistrates told Singh, who represented himself, to return to court on April 27 for a pre-trial review.

Speaking afterwards Craig's mother Jill Kynaston spoke of her despair at the drawn-out legal process, saying: "I just can't believe what's happening. It's devastating that this is still going on."

Around a dozen of Craig's friends and family were in court.

Mrs Kynaston said: "It shows he is much-loved and sadly-missed."

An inquest at Huddersfield Coroner's Court in January into the fatal incident recorded a verdict of accidental death.

Mr Marples, who lived at Northorpe Lane in Mirfield was dropped off by taxi at about 1.20am opposite Ricky's pub at Leeds Road.

The coroner heard that he managed to cross one side of the road safely and was waiting in the middle, when

he was in collision with a silver Citroen Saxo travelling from Huddersfield towards Cooper Bridge.

Blood samples showed Mr Marples, a former warehouse manager, had drunk the equivalent of nine pints or 17 measures of spirits.