Jury finds Oxfordshire man not guilty of causing injury by cycling ‘wantonly or furiously’
55-year-old Edward Bressan struck 81-year-old Polly Friedhoff with his bicycle whilst cycling on the River Thames towpath in Oxford in November 2022
Mr Bressan’s defence described him as an “Unwitting actor in a tragic event, in what was a sad demise of a good lady”.
The trial started on Monday the 8th July where the court heard, how on 20th November 2022 Polly Friedhoff was out for a walk with her friend Eva Huggins around lunch time heading north on the Thames towpath.
Mr Bressan was on his bike also heading north, as he attempted to overtake Polly on her left hand side there was a collision.
Polly suffered serious injuries to her head, arms and ribs, sadly passing away 12 days after the incident.
In evidence, Mr Bressan said he’d rung the bell and that Eva moved right indicating for Polly to do the same, but Polly panicked and in fact moved left into his path.
In her witness statement Eva Huggins said the pair were walking and chatting when suddenly she saw Polly fly forward and land flat on the toe path.
Eva said she didn’t hear a bell, or a shout and that she only became aware of the cyclist, when he hit Polly.
A witness statement from a physician who was on the toe path at the time said that the first time he saw the bicycle it was over taking the two ladies.
“The bike was travelling not much faster than walking speed, there was a very unpleasant sound when she fell which I believe to be her head hitting the floor.
“She exhibited no attempt to break her fall and the whole incident struck me as very unlucky; I did not see the bike approaching but there was contact.”
Mr Bressan gave evidence on day two of the trial stating that he was cycling home from Sainsburys after he’d been to collect ingredients needed for a dinner he was cooking for a friend later that day.
Mr Bressan said “I was cycling at a moderate pace, I rang my bell as I approached the two ladies and veered to the left side of the pathway.
“The pedestrian on the right side moved to the right to let me pass, I heard her say cyclist however her companion moved to the left, no doubt to move out of my way but instead moved into my line of sight.
“It was unexpected and therefore made the accident unavoidable.”
Mr Bressan said the bike had been serviced that year and he had cycled down the toe path hundreds of times.
He has no previous convictions or driving convictions and at the time was working as a lecturer at the University of Law.
Mr Bressan said at the time of the incident he was travelling slightly faster than walking pace approximately 4mph.
He also said “I did everything I could to help, I felt traumatised”.