THE grandfather of a 21-year-old woman accused of causing the deaths of an elderly couple by dangerous driving has spoken in court.

Taylor McDonnell's grandfather, Francis McDonnell, said he was having a conversation with his granddaughter on the evening of the crash and heard her scream "Bampi, Bampi" before the line went dead.

The court heard that McDonnell didn't tell her grandfather she was driving at the time of the call, and he heard no background noise, although Mr McDonnell admits having hearing problems.

The defendant of Carrow Road, Caerwent, denies causing the deaths of 86-year-olds Denis and Joyce Drew after hitting the couple on the B4326 Caerleon Road with her blue Toyota Aygo on the evening of Wednesday 13th November 2013.

Newport Crown Court heard

yesterday (10th February) how McDonnell made four phone calls and was on the phone for more than 18 minutes of her journey.

McDonnell admits to using her phone with the loudspeaker function but says she called her grandparents from a lay-by and denies being on the phone at the time of the crash.

Prosecutor Lucy Crowther said analysis of the phone calls showed the use of a number of telephone masts. The prosecution said this showed the telephone was being moved.

A statement from PC Carl Green who attended the scene, spoke to McDonnell at the time of the incident. She said: "Why did she walk out in front of me?" PC Green said the defendant was wearing slippers on her feet and "shaking uncontrollably". He said McDonnell told him she didn't even see her (Mrs Drew) before she hit her car.

After noticing the black iPhone in McDonnell's hand he asked her where the phone was when she was driving. According to PC Green she said it was kept in an opening in the dashboard.

A witness at the Star Inn, a pub close to the scene of the crash, said the defendant came into the pub shouting "help me, help me" and was "shaking violently".

The court heard how a neighbour of the couple said Mrs Drew had walked into the road when a lorry was coming two or three years before the accident. Helena Thomas said: "Before I had the chance to press the button she had started to cross the road. I followed her and we got to the other side before the lorry passed." Mrs Thomas was adamant the lorry would have seen her and had plenty of time to slow down, and although the lorry was coming it did have clear vision. The court heard how four years prior to the fatal crash, Mrs Drew had early symptoms of Alzheimer's disease.

After the event Mrs Thomas said Mr Drew was always with his wife. She said: "They adored one another, they were always arm in arm."

The trial will continue today (11th February) in Newport Crown Court at 10am.