After the verdict in the Max Lewis death crash court case, his mother Niki wrote this about how she felt about the outcome of the case and the behaviour of three men incolved in the crash

WE came to court to hear the truth about how our precious son, Max Lewis, aged just 19, was killed in a car driven by Daniel Palmer, on November 15 last year.

We came to find out if Max’s death was caused by a decision made by Daniel Palmer, Connor Forester and Julian Drew to race together down a windy, busy, country lane.

Over the last week, the family, the prosecuting barrister, the judge and jury at Swindon Crown Court have had to listen to the three defendants’ version of events and as a result they have been cleared of causing death by dangerous driving.

But Daniel Palmer admitted causing Max’s death by careless driving, he smashed his Citroen Saxo into an oncoming van. He at least had the decency to stand in the dock and give an account of what he thought happened, although only accepting partial responsibility.

Connor Forester and Julian Drew failed to come forward to the police to give an account of what happened for five days, despite knowing that Max had died and despite numerous police requests for them to admit they were involved in the accident.

Gavin Mence, a passenger, in Connor Forester’s car, also failed to come forward to help the police until days later. This meant the coroner was unable to release Max back to his family for more than a week.

However they choose to describe their relationship to Max, they did not behave like friends or show any sense of decency or compassion.

Connor Forester has never had a full driving licence, never passed his test, never had a single driving lesson and has no insurance.

Julian Drew was already banned from driving, just weeks before the accident. Despite being seven years older  he continued with the utmost arrogance and ignorance to break the law.

Neither Forester nor Drew had the courage to stand in the dock and give any account of what happened.

Anyone leaving the safety of their homes, could have become a victim of these road menaces, who have such a total lack of respect for legal driving and the safety of others.

The combined behaviour of Daniel Palmer, Connor Forester, Julian Drew and Gavin Mence has been truly despicable, deeply shameful and totally disrespectful.

When I saw that it was Daniel Palmer who had come to pick Max up that morning my heart sank. We cannot stop our teenagers from going out, I’m sure there are many parents out there who regularly spend sleepless nights worrying about what might happen. Well, for us that most terrible thing has happened.

We didn’t go to court to ‘win’, nobody wins in such a dreadful situation but we were hoping to hear more of the truth. 

We would like to thank Wiltshire Police for their support to the family, to Charlie Gabb, the barrister who pursued the truth relentlessly, and to the witnesses who came forward willingly and honestly.

We are sorry for the trauma they have been through and so thankful for the help they have given this case.

Whether we have had justice for Max or not, doesn’t bring him back, does not stop the terrible pain we suffer every day from losing him and missing him.

He was a lovely, clever, strong, beautiful boy and we loved him with all our hearts.