by Keith Hunt

A driver denied causing the death of a 19-year-old student in a car crash when he appeared at Maidstone Crown Court today.

Mateusz Makiewicz, of Canterbury Road, Sittingbourne, is accused of causing the death of April George by dangerous driving and an alternative charge of causing death by careless driving.

The teenager, of Crouch Hill Court, Lower Halstow, died after an accident on the A2 at Moor Street, Rainham, on December 7 last year.

April, who was studying criminal justice at the University of Kent's Chatham Maritime campus, was travelling with her father Steven when the crash happened.

The former Fulston Manor pupil, who worked part-time as a receptionist at Sheerness Dental Centre, was treated at the scene, but died in hospital the next day.

Her father suffered a fractured pelvis and an injury to his spleen.

Makiewicz entered the not guilty pleas to both charges with his Polish speaking solicitor acting as an interpreter.

Judge Martin Joy remanded him in custody until his trial on May 8.