The Morley family has a released a statement of facts regarding the Macedonian trial of Nicholas Morley, which seems to jibe with what we've sussed ourselves about what went down the day before the 2007 Gumball 3000 came apart at the seams. According to the original accident investigator on the scene, as well as an investigator from nonprofit British organization TRL, Morley was traveling at or under 47 mph and would have had 1.6 seconds in which to stop from the point that Vladimir Cepuljoski pulled out in front of his Porsche. The full statement after the jump.
Nicholas Morley car accident, Macedonia, May 2nd 2007
STATEMENT OF FACTS
According to two expert crash investigators, the vehicle driven by Nicholas Morley was travelling at no more than 47mph (76kph) at the time of the accident.
The initial accident investigation was carried out by a professional Macedonian investigator. His findings were reviewed and confirmed by Dr Richard Lambourn, an established expert in the field.
Dr Lambourn was an accident reconstruction specialist at the Metropolitan Police Forensic Science Laboratory for 23 years (1973-1996) and is currently a principal consultant at TRL, an independent, not-for-profit transport research firm and consultancy. It was the firm that reconstructed the car crash that caused the death of Diana, Princess of Wales.
The cause of the crash was a second vehicle pulling out of a minor road without warning and into Nicholas's path. The cause of the crash has not been disputed by the prosecution.
According to the defence expert witnesses, Nicholas had 1.6 seconds to respond to the second car's sudden appearance, causing him to react reflexively and swerve violently to the left. The defence experts concluded that the accident would have been unavoidable at 30mph (50kph).
The court declined to hear the evidence of the defence expert witnesses, although the testimony of the prosecution expert witness was heard.
Macedonia is party to the European Convention on Human Rights, Article 6 of which provides a detailed right to a fair trial. Under the Macedonian Criminal Code, the defence has a right to submit evidence.
The prosecution's accident investigator is not a professional in this field. He admitted in court that he is currently unemployed. He further admitted in court that the police sketch of the crash site on which he based his findings is inaccurate.
Dr Lambourn concluded that the accident investigation report relied on by the prosecution is "fundamentally flawed in its physical and mathematical reasoning." He further concluded that it was "quite impossible" that Nicholas's car was travelling at the 100mph (161kph) alleged by the prosecution.
The family of the Mr and Mrs Cepunjoski, who were tragically killed in the crash, have called for the court to release Nicholas.
Following the accident, Nicholas and his passenger, Matthew McConville, attempted to disentangle the vehicles and offer what assistance they could. They only left the scene after the injured persons had left the scene in local vehicles. Nicholas and Matthew then travelled to the border to alert the police.
Nicholas Morley and Matthew McConville spoke to the investigating judge at Qafasan, on the Macedonia/Albania border.
Nicholas Morley did not try to flee the country. He was released on bail, with no conditions or restrictions attached. He was free to leave the country.
Nicholas Morley, 30, is not a millionaire; he does not work in property.
Morley Family Gumball Accident Statement of Facts [Team Polizei]
Related:
Nick Morley Convicted in Gumball Crash, Gets Suspended Sentence; Trial Of Gumball 3000 Driver Expected To Wrap Up Today; Gumball 3000 Driver Forgiven by Victims' Family; Gumball 3000 Death Trial to Begin Friday; Fast As a Shark: East of Eden: The Fall of the Gumball 3000; Morley Released On Bail, Tries To Flee Macedonia In Private Jet, Arrested Again; Gumballers Nick Morley And Matthew McConville Arrested After Hit-And-Run Fatality [Internal]