A teenage motorist has appeared in court charged with causing the death by dangerous driving of a French exchange student.

Ole Bonnichsen, 19, of Norfolk Close, Radley, yesterday denied killing thirteen-year-old Charlotte Esciande - who was aged just 13 - as she crossed the road in The Avenue, Kennington, on February 26.

Charlotte, who lived in Paris, had been staying with a family in Kennington while studying English at the EF Language Travel centre in London Place, St Clement's, Oxford. The teenage accident victim was taken to Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital, but died on March 3.

Villagers in Kennington were urged to sign a petition about the condition of the road following the girl's death.

More than 350 residents signed the petition calling for more road humps to be installed - and an advertisement was placed in the Kennington parish magazine calling for the whole community to support the campaign. Road humps introduced in Kennington Road and The Avenue in 1991 do not extend as far as Manor Grove.

Villagers claimed they had repeatedly warned Oxfordshire County Council engineers that the area where the accident happened - close to the junction with Manor Grove - was an accident blackspot.

Yesterday's hearing at Oxford Crown Court was adjourned for 28 days, until December 3, to decide who would be called as witnesses in the case.

Ole Bonnichsen's trial is expected to last one week.

Bonnichsen was released on unconditional bail.

Story date: Saturday 06 November

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