Driver, 70, pleads guilty to killing baby with car outside hospital

A frail 70-year-old woman has admitted to killing an eight-month-old baby girl in her pram by dangerous driving. 

Bridget Carole Curtis, of Begelly, Wales, was behind the wheel of her white BMW at the entrance of Withybush Hospital in Pembrokeshire on June 21 last year when she hit the pram containing little Mabli Cariad Hall.

Mabli, described as a 'precious angel', was airlifted to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff and later transferred to the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, where she died from severe traumatic brain injuries in the early hours of June 25.

Curtis, who has mobility problems, limped into the dock at Swansea Crown Court, where she pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving.

Mabli's heartbroken parents, Gwen and Rob Hall, of Neath, South Wales, held hands in the public gallery. Mrs Hall, clutching one of Mabli's soft toys, sobbed as Curtis said she was 'guilty' of the charge.

Fourteen members of Mabli's family attended the hearing, which has taken over a year to come to court.

The baby's parents will give victim impact statements when 'devastated' Curtis is sentenced on November 22.

The court heard Curtis had a clean driving licence at the time of the accident.

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John Dye, defending, said she has surrendered her driving licence since the tragedy and 'will not drive again'.

Mr Dye told the 10-minute hearing: 'She is absolutely devastated to be here.' He said Curtis had pleaded guilty 'without qualification.'

The barrister applied for an adjournment for psychiatric and pre-sentence reports to be carried out.

Curtis, of Begelly, Pembrokeshire, was given unconditional bail by Judge Geraint Walters KC who said the fact he had ordered reports was no indication of the sentence she is facing.

Curtis, dressed in a black suit and white blouse, was supported by family members as she left the court where Mabli's parents and family members were hugging each other outside.

In a statement, Mabli's parents said the past year had been the 'most horrendous time of our lives.'

Describing Mabli as a 'precious angel,' they said: 'Our family life has been changed forever and we are still trying to come to terms with what has happened.

'Every day is a day of pain for us, even now, but we still have to give the love and support our other children need as they are still trying to come to terms with losing their baby sister.'

Previously the couple, who have five other children, said they would 'cherish' their memories of their daughter.

'We are absolutely heartbroken by the death of our beautiful baby girl Mabli,' they said.

'She was adored by us and her five siblings and brought us so much joy in her short life. We will always remember Mabli's beautiful little smile and cherish the time we had with her.'

Gwen and Rob thanked Dyfed-Powys Police, their family and friends for their support and said the help they had received from 2Wish, a child bereavement charity, had been invaluable.

Previously, Mabli's grandfather, Paul Sambrook, told the BBC his granddaughter 'would have been a character.'

'She was full of fun, she had a lovely laugh, she had that light in her eyes,' Mr Sambrook said.

'She would've been a character, without a doubt. That's the awful tragedy. The loss of a life is one thing, the loss of the lifetime is the thing that hurts more.'

A fundraiser for the family following Mabli's death has raised almost £35,000.

Curtis will next appear before Swansea Crown Court for sentence on November 22.