Man admits killing teenage Thomas Edwards in hit and run near Sefton Park

A man has admitted killing a teenage boy in a hit and run near Sefton Park

34 year old Patrick Smeda from Wavertree today pleaded guilty to causing the death of 16 year old Thomas Edwards by dangerous driving.

He appeared at Liverpool Crown Court via videolink from Walton Prison, where he also admitting failing to stop at the scene of a collision.

Thomas' parents were in the public gallery for the hearing today, they wore T shirts with printed photographs of their son.

The court heard CCTV evidence vital to the case hasn't been by Smeda's legal team which meant that the case couldn't move to sentencing straight away.

The prosecution said it appeared to show Smeda driving his vehicle in tandem with another, but his defence told the court his client claimed to see CCTV which did not show him in tandem with another vehicle.

Judge Clement Goldstone adjourned the case until the 26th January where Smeda will either be sentenced or a date will be set for a mini trial called a Newton hearing where the judge rules on disputed evidence

In a statement released after Thomas' death, his parents, Mark and Sharron, said “Our beautiful son Thomas has been taken away from us far too soon. Our hearts have been shattered into a million pieces."

“Thomas was a lovely, polite, caring young man who was one in a million. He was a loving brother to his three sisters, we couldn’t have asked for a better son. He made us proud every day"