A BUS driver accused of causing the death of an elderly woman by careless driving in Newport city centre last year appeared in court today.

Nigel Davies, 29, had previously pleaded not guilty to causing death by careless driving.

The court heard that the incident occurred on Friday, September 23, last year at around 3.05pm in Bridge Street, Newport, leading to the death of Rashida Ali.

Prosecuting, Alexander Greenwood said that Davies, of Lewis Street, in Ystrad Mynach, was driving a Stagecoach bus in the service from Newport to Blackwood.

Mr Greenwood said there were about eight or nine passengers in the bus, which was running about 12 minutes behind schedule.

He said: "He continued to drive along Bridge Street, but slowed the vehicle down when approaching the zebra crossing as there was someone waiting to cross.

"Mrs Ali had been walking along the pedestrian area towards Bridge Street. She was waiting to cross. She began to cross in front of the vehicle, in the direction of the Queen's Hotel."

Mr Greenwood said that Davies continued to drive and navigate bend - "which is almost a U-turn around the building," he added.

"Mrs Ali looked at the bus while crossing the road and started to quicken her pace. She raised her arm towards the bus to get the driver's attention," Mr Greenwood said.

The trial heard Davies continued the manoeuvre and collided with her.

Mr Greenwood said police were at the scene within seconds and administered first aid to Mrs Ali, a woman on her seventies, who was unconscious at the time.

He said CPR was administered but that the injuries were "so severe" that she was pronounced dead at 3.25pm.

"A post-mortem examination was carried out at the Royal Gwent Hospital on September 26," Mr Greenwood continued. "The cause of death was multiple internal injuries, multiple fractures and blood trauma."

The trial began at Newport Crown Court this morning.

Proceeding.