Boy, 15, weeps in court as he is charged with deaths of five people in Leeds car crash

Five people, including three children, died in a car crash in Leeds on Saturday
Peter Byrne/PA
Ella Wills29 November 2017
WEST END FINAL

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A 15-year-old boy cried as he appeared in court charged with causing the deaths of five people, including three children, when a car ploughed into a tree.

The teenager, who cannot be identified, was remanded in custody by a district judge at Leeds Youth Court after he appeared in the dock wearing a tracksuit, with his left arm in a sling and with visible injuries to his right eye.

The boy stood in the glass-fronted dock with one male and one female security officer.

He spoke only to give his name, address and date of birth.

A man and a woman, believed to be his parents, sat directly in front of the dock.

After he was remanded in custody by District Judge Marie Mallon, the boy leaned his head against the glass and cried as he spoke to his parents before he was led away.

He pushed his fingers through the gaps in the security barrier for his mother to hold.

During the 20-minute hearing, the district judge refused a request by Stephen Smithson, defending, to allow the teenager bail.

She said he would appear again at Leeds Crown Court on December 13.

Police have described the crash in the Meanwood area of Leeds as "catastrophic".

They said all those who died were travelling in the Clio, which had been stolen in Leeds earlier that evening.

The crash happened just before 10pm.

On Monday, Detective Chief Inspector Jim Griffiths told reporters that emergency services had been confronted by "a scene of total carnage" when they arrived.

Relatives of the dead brothers were among a succession of people who have visited the growing shrine of flowers, balloons, candles and messages at the crash scene.

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