Leamington bus push murder trial opens

Buy photos » Paul Carscadden. (s)

THE LEAMINGTON man accused of killing his gay partner by pushing him in front of a bus is standing trial at Birmingham Crown Court.

The case opened against Ian Robert Chaundy on Monday (September 10), who has pleaded not guilty to the murder of his partner Paul Carscadden on June 24 last year.

Chaundy, 48, of Avenue Road, also denied an alternative charge of manslaughter.

The charges follow an incident at around 11.30pm when the emergency services were called to Bath Street in south Leamington where Mr Carscadden had been hit by a Stagecoach bus.

The 40-year-old had suffered multiple injuries and was confirmed dead at the scene.

The two men had been eating with friends in a Bath Street restaurant, The Indian, shortly before the incident in which it is alleged Mr Carscadden was pushed in front of the bus by Chaundy.

When Chaundy was first charged with the alleged murder in July he was remanded in custody by magistrates, but was granted bail the following day by a High Court judge sitting at Warwick Crown Court.

At that time his bail included conditions that he live at an address outside Warwickshire, report three times a week to the police and have no contact with witnesses.

But later that month the court was told that the prosecution had no objections to him moving back to his home.

There was also no objection to Chaundy attending Mr Carscadden’s funeral which took place on July 29, even though some prosecution witnesses were likely to be there.

The case, which had originally been due to be heard at Warwick Crown Court but was later switched to Birmingham, continues.

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