A police pursuit officer was formally acquitted of all charges after expert evidence concluded that his driving met professional policing standards during a fatal high-speed pursuit in Bristol.
Police Constable Matthew Pike, aged 40, was cleared at Bristol Crown Court of causing death by dangerous driving, and the alternative count of causing death by careless driving, following a judicial ruling that the prosecution evidence was insufficient to be left to the jury.
The proceedings arose from events shortly before midnight on 4 November 2021, when PC Pike, driving an unmarked BMW police vehicle, initiated a pursuit of Lewis Griffin, then aged 23, who failed to stop his Volkswagen Tiguan when police lights were activated. During the pursuit, vehicle speeds approached 93 miles per hour through central Bristol.
The pursuit terminated when Griffin collided with a Honda Jazz driven by Dr Keryl Johnson at the Newfoundland Circus junction. Dr Johnson, aged 35, sustained catastrophic injuries and later died in hospital.
Griffin subsequently pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and, in February 2024, was sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment with a ten-year driving disqualification.
Following that conviction, PC Pike was charged on the basis that his manner of driving was said to have contributed, in law, to the fatal outcome. The prosecution accepted that Griffin’s driving constituted the “primary and immediate cause” of death but argued that the officer’s conduct met the legal threshold for dangerous or careless driving.
At trial, the prosecution case relied heavily on expert analysis of police pursuit driving. However, the court heard evidence from a specialist prosecution expert in police pursuit tactics, training, and operational driving, who concluded that PC Pike’s conduct complied with national policing standards and training protocols.
In directing the jury to acquit, His Honour Judge Edward Burgess KC ruled that the expert evidence was fatal to the prosecution case. Addressing the court, he held that no properly directed jury could conclude that PC Pike had driven either dangerously or carelessly.
The judge stated that the expert witness had expressly opined that PC Pike “did his job as he was trained to do,” and that at no stage of the pursuit did his driving fall below the standard expected of a competent police pursuit driver.
Accordingly, Judge Burgess ordered verdicts of not guilty to be returned on both counts, describing the case as “dreadfully difficult, incredibly sad and utterly tragic,” while emphasising the legal necessity of acquittal where evidential thresholds are not met.
Evidence before the court confirmed that PC Pike held the highest level of police driving qualification, was fully authorised to conduct pursuits, and had completed all requisite refresher training. Following the collision, PC Pike immediately stopped to render assistance to Dr Johnson, while a fellow officer pursued and arrested Griffin nearby.
Post-verdict statements from Avon and Somerset Police confirmed that the prosecution arose following an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct. Detective Superintendent Larisa Hunt noted the prolonged impact of the proceedings on the officer, who had awaited resolution for almost four years.
The case underscores the critical role of expert witness evidence in prosecutions involving emergency service driving, particularly where complex questions arise regarding causation, training standards, and operational decision-making under extreme conditions.
Expert Witnesses and Their Roles
Police Pursuit and Driving Expert (Prosecution)
A specialist expert in police pursuit tactics, advanced police driving, and operational training standards was instructed by the prosecution. The expert analysed vehicle telemetry, pursuit footage, national police pursuit guidelines, and officer training records. The expert concluded that PC Matthew Pike’s driving complied with authorised pursuit procedures and did not fall below the standard of a competent, properly trained police pursuit driver.
Collision and Causation Evidence (Agreed Background Evidence)
Collision circumstances and causation were considered within the expert framework, with the prosecution expressly accepting that the driving of Lewis Griffin constituted the primary and immediate cause of Dr Keryl Johnson’s death.
Police Training and Authorisation Evidence (Operational Context)
Evidence was also led concerning PC Pike’s qualifications, including his advanced police driving certification, pursuit authorisation status, and compliance with refresher training requirements. This evidence supported the expert conclusion that PC Pike was operating within the scope of his professional duties at the material time.
The Judge: Verbatim
Addressing the jury, the judge said: “As you know, on Thursday of last week, the prosecution closed its case, meaning that at that stage they had called all the evidence they had intended to in this trial.
“Over the course of the next few court days, I considered the evidence and the law and considered it with counsel on both sides.
“At the conclusion of that process, I came to the decision, which is my decision as the judge of the law, that looking at this as a whole, the evidence in this case is not sufficient to allow any jury to find that the defendant Matthew Pike drove dangerously or drove carelessly.
“This is because prosecution expert witness told you that in his opinion, as an expert in police pursuits, training and driving, Matthew Pike did not drive dangerously and did not drive carelessly at any stage during the pursuit of the VW Tiguan.
“On the contrary, put simply he said Matthew Pike did his job as he was trained to do it.
“As a result, it is my decision that on both counts, Matthew Pike must now be found not guilty.”
The judge added: “This is a dreadfully difficult, incredibly sad and utterly tragic case.
“So far as the proceedings against Matthew Pike are concerned at the crown court, they are now at an end.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Causation_(law)
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