A PEOPLE carrier driver killed a motorcyclist in a crash after a split-second lapse in concentration as he turned off a main road, a court heard.

Snaresbrook Crown Court heard this afternoon how Carl Lander, of Toot Hill in Ongar, caused the death of Shane Stanfield, 33, of Rounton Road in Waltham Abbey, because of his careless driving.

Mr Lander, 39, who was in a VW Caravelle, collided with Mr Stanfield's motorbike in Woodford Green High Road at the junction with Epping New Road, just before 6.30pm on October 20 2008.

Mr Stanfield, a popular and well-known DJ, was just weeks away from celebrating the first birthday of his baby son Ronnie at the time.

The prosecution allege that Mr Lander failed to pay proper attention as he drove across the face of incoming traffic while he attempted to turn onto a side road.

The court heard how, in wet and rainy conditions, Mr Lander did not have his windscreen wipers on, and how he claimed not to have noticed Mr Stanfield's bike coming towards him.

David Tomlinson, for the prosecution, said: “Unhappily what happened here is that he executed his right turn just at the time as Mr Stanfield's little scooter had got much too close to him.

“He drove right across the path of the oncoming scooter and it simply wasn't possible for the driver to stop in time.”

He added: “Even a moment's loss of attention is something that may let the quality of the driving falling below what would be expected of a competent and careful driver.

“What happened here did so in a split second – but it was a life-changing moment for everyone involved.”

Jurors heard how Mr Stanfield had overtaken a white van just moments before the collision, and that he may have been breaking the 30mph speed limit.

But Mr Tomlinson said his speed was not excessive and that it could not explain why Mr Lander drove across the road when he did.

He added: “He told the police that he didn't see Mr Stanfield's scooter coming towards him. But it is the prosecution case that it [Mr Stanfield's motorcycle] could not have been missed by a competent and careful driver. That's really the fundamental issue.”

Mr Lander denies causing death by careless driving.

The trial continues.