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A 70-year-old woman will return to court in two months for a fatal car accident involving an eight-month-old baby. On Friday (Sept. 20), Bridget Curtis reportedly pled guilty in the Swansea Crown Court in Wales to causing the death of Mabli Cariad Hall, per the BBC.
According to PEOPLE, Curtis’ vehicle struck Mabli while she was in her stroller near the front entrance of the Withybush Hospital. A press release from Dyfed-Powys Police confirms that the incident occurred on June 21, 2023. A few days later, on June 25, the baby passed away from traumatic brain injuries. At the time, her parents, Rob and Gwen Hall, shared that they were “heartbroken” by the death of their sixth child.
“We would like to thank everyone who tried to help us at such a tragic time; the people who were there when it happened, the emergency services who came to our aid and the amazing staff at Withybush, the Heath in Cardiff and Bristol Childrens Hospital,” Rob and Gwen stated.
The Halls were present in the courtroom during Bridget Curtis’ hearing on Friday, along with other family members. PEOPLE reports that Gwen held a soft toy during the proceedings. Ultimately, Curtis admitted to the dangerous driving of her BMW, which not only struck the baby but her parents and bystanders. It’s unclear if alcohol or any other substance contributed to Curtis’ state during the crash.
As mentioned, Curtis is expected to return to court on Nov. 22 for sentencing, according to U.K.-based outlets like the BBC, The Guardian, and The Independent.
Until then, Judge Geraint Walters released the 70-year-old on unconditional bail. However, she is disqualified from driving and must undergo psychiatric and pre-sentence reports. According to The Guardian, Judge Walters said:
“You will probably have understood already that the granting of bail and the asking of reports cant carry any indication of the sentence that could be passed upon you. You can have your bail until the day of sentence.”
Meanwhile, her lawyer, John Dye, reassured the court on Friday that his client felt “devastated” by the case and had a clean driving record with no convictions before the accident.
