Man to stand trial accused of stealing vehicle before fatal crash at Earsham

It comes after a crash between a stolen Land Rover and a Nissan Juke on the A143 near Earsham last month

26 year old Thomas Urbaniak appeared at Norwich Crown Court yesterday
Author: Matt SoanesPublished 22nd Sep 2023
Last updated 22nd Sep 2023

A Newmarket man is set to go on trial next year in connection with a fatal crash at Earsham last month.

26 year old Thomas Urbaniak appeared at Norwich Crown Court yesterday to deny a charge of aggravated vehicle taking.

It comes after a collision between a stolen Land Rover and a Nissan Juke on the A143 near Earsham on August 13.

In the moments before the crash the Land Rover had ploughed through a maize field in an attempt to evade police.

The driver of the Nissan, 28 year old Aisatou Mballow Baldeh, was fatally injured.

Crash victim: Aisatou Mballow Baldeh, along with her husband Bocar

Marcin Jablonski, 43, from Carlton Colville, has already admitted causing death by dangerous driving, causing death while driving with no insurance, causing death while driving disqualified, aggravated vehicle taking, and criminal damage.

Urbaniak has been remanded in custody ahead of a further hearing in November, with a provisional trial date set for the 19th of February next year.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is to investigate the actions of both Norfolk and Suffolk Police in the moments before the fatal crash.

A police helicopter was monitoring the Land Rover, which had been reported stolen in Suffolk.

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