Cyclist riding at 23mph as he crashed into pedestrian who later died says it was 'appropriate speed', trial hears

A cyclist who struck a 56-year-old man who died days after the collision said he was riding at an ‘appropriate speed’. Cornelius De Bruin was cycling when he crashed into Ian Roland Gunn, who was crossing Wilmslow Road on June 20, 2020.

Mr Gunn died in hospital eight days later after his health 'deteriorated' due to the injuries he suffered. Mr De Bruin was charged with causing bodily harm by ‘wanton or furious driving’, which he denies.

During the second day of the trial at Bolton Crown Court, the jury watched on as Mr De Bruin was called to the stand under cross examination. The court heard about the moment the 23-year-old property manager collided with the late Mr Gunn, who was crossing Wilmslow Road after grocery shopping at a local Tesco Express. Mr De Bruin was riding at about ‘23 miles per hour’ and was seen ‘head down’ peddling fast on the busy Didsbury road in the moments before the crash, prosecutors said.

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During the trial, the court heard how when questioned by police if his speed was appropriate on the road with a 30mph limit, Mr De Bruin was recorded as saying: “Yeah, I think it was appropriate. If cars can go 30 miles an hour why can’t cyclists go 30 miles an hour? Not that I advise to go 30 miles an hour.”

Originally from Holland, Mr De Bruin has lived in the country for five years and described himself as an ‘intermediate’ and experienced bike rider. During an interview with police, he said he had been riding bikes ‘all his life’ as he was Dutch.

While being questioned by defence barrister Mark Fireman, Mr De Bruin said that after turning left onto the road he was ‘pretty familiar with’, his intention was to enter