Prosecutor Stephen Rose KC alleged that Tancredo Bankhardt, 41, intended to kill himself and three children by deliberately causing a serious road traffic collision. Rose told the jury that Bankhardt had placed the seatbelts into their buckles and then sat the children on top, ensuring none of them were wearing seatbelts. The prosecution claimed this was a deliberate act to maximize the risk of fatal injuries to the young passengers. Rose alleged that Bankhardt orchestrated the crash with the intention of killing all four occupants of his car. Prosecutor Rose described the alleged actions as a calculated and chilling attempt to end lives.
According to the prosecution, Bankhardt deliberately drove his Vauxhall Astra at speed into oncoming traffic, resulting in a serious multiple-vehicle collision on a Norfolk road. Rose stated that several people were injured in the crash, including two of the young children in Bankhardt's car, who sustained serious injuries. He added that despite the seriousness of the collision, miraculously no lives were lost, but there were a number of people with serious injuries. The court heard that other motorists were also caught up in the incident, suffering various injuries. Emergency services attended the scene, and multiple people were taken to hospital for treatment.
Rose told the court that during the journey, Bankhardt engaged in a series of audio calls and exchanged messages with other individuals. The defense, Rose indicated, will argue that the collision was a tragic accident and that Bankhardt had no intention of killing anyone. Rose indicated the defense will claim that a combination of emotional phone conversations and the glare from oncoming headlights caused the crash, distracting Bankhardt at the critical moment. The defense suggests that Bankhardt was overwhelmed by the emotional nature of the calls and was temporarily blinded by the lights, leading to the loss of control. The trial is expected to call witnesses to give evidence about the circumstances of the crash.
The trial continues, and further evidence is expected to be heard. It remains unclear how Bankhardt will plead, what his relationship is to the three children, and the precise nature of the injuries sustained by the victims.