A pedestrian who was knocked down and killed on the A34 had been seen moments earlier walking in the road with his middle fingers held to the skies.

Lee Walker, 35, who was staying at a bail hostel in Oxford city centre at the time, had only been released from prison three days before he was killed on March 13.

And on Wednesday (September 27), Oxford Coroner’s Court heard that plans were afoot to recall Mr Walker to prison after his licence was revoked by the authorities.

The court was not told what crime his prison sentence was imposed for. 

Giving evidence at Mr Walker’s inquest, PC Mark Sanders of Thames Valley Police’s roads policing unit said it was unclear from staff at the bail hostel in Clarks Row whether the former inmate had been told of the recall.

READ MORE: What happens at an inquest?

“I suspect, in the environment he was in, he would have had [knowledge of the recall],” he told the coroner.

Oxford Mail: A witness appeal by the roadside on the A34 Picture: Oxford MailA witness appeal by the roadside on the A34 Picture: Oxford Mail (Image: Newsquest)

Mr Walker had spent much of his time out and about on the streets during his stay at the bail hostel.

Despite enquiries being made, there was no record of where he had been earlier in the evening of his death.

His room at the hostel was searched, but no letter or note had been left by him.

Pub manager William Oakley was driving his Toyota Hilux at around 70mph on the A34 near Wytham when he noticed a figure standing in the road.

He saw the standing figure when he was around four metres in front of the pick-up.

“I had no time to react,” he said in a statement read by the senior coroner.

He shut his eyes. “It took me a few seconds to […] process the terrible thing that had just happened. I was in complete shock.”

Oxford Mail: Mr Walker was staying at a bail hostel in Clarks Row, Oxford Mr Walker was staying at a bail hostel in Clarks Row, Oxford (Image: Oxford Mail)

Mr Oakley pulled over his car and called the police.

A few minutes earlier, police were called by another driver who spotted Mr Walker walking first down Seacourt Lane, adjacent to the A34, then on the dual carriageway itself.

The man, who was wearing a ‘distinctive’ tracksuit, was said to have been holding up his middle fingers.

READ MORE: Inquest opened into pedestrian's A34 death

Blood tests conducted following his death showed Mr Walker was around four times the equivalent drink drive limit.

A pathologist ruled the cause of his death to be multiple injuries.

Senior coroner for Oxfordshire Darren Salter recorded a narrative conclusion, telling the inquest he could not be satisfied on the balance of probabilities that Mr Walker intended to end his own life.

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