Dangerous driving could be the cause (From Gazette Series)

Dangerous driving could be the cause

A MAN has appeared in court charged with causing the death of Dursley disc jockey Kristian Johansen by dangerous driving.

At Gloucester Crown Court on Tuesday, David Ian Pitts, 22, of Union Street, Dursley, made a brief preliminary appearance facing a charge causing the death of his passenger, Mr Johansen - known as 'DJ Perv' - by dangerous driving last July.

Andrew Bowdler, prosecuting, told the court that a collision investigation report had been prepared and could now be served on the defence.

Recorder David Lane QC granted Mr Pitts unconditional bail and told him to return to court on May 27 to enter his plea to the charge.

Recorder Lane fixed a provisional trial date for July 4.

Mr Johansen, 25, of Upper Poole Road, Dursley, was in a blue VW Golf which careered off the B4066 Uley-Dursley road in and hit a tree on July 30.

He was killed and Pitts, a soldier in the Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment, was taken to Bristol's Frenchay Hospital with serious injuries.

Both men were cut free by fire fighters from the wreckage after the smash but Mr Johansen was pronounced dead at the scene.

Gloucester coroner Alan Crickmore has opened an inquest into Mr Johansen's death and adjourned it until a date to be fixed.

The coroner has been told that Mr Johansen's body had been formally identified by his father, David.

Pathologist Professor Neil Sheppard found that death was due to multiple injuries.