Man faces death crash charges

Becca Owen, from Llanfechain, died in February 2005, along with Chloe Taylor, from Kent, who was also in the car.

They were in a Subaru estate which left the highway and tumbled 25 metres down the ravine.

Sally Owen, Becca's mother, today said the family had been told the result of the court case against the driver, Carlos Ibara, should be known on May 21.

Ibara told police he had been dazzled by headlights as he came around a corner.

However, at an inquest into Becca's death held in Welshpool last year, Geraint Williams, coroner, said he believed the driver had probably fallen asleep at the wheel.

The party, a group of 12 biologists and students, had been returning from a day working in bat caves when the tragedy happened.

The inquest also heard the vehicle was only authorised to hold nine people, but was carrying 12.

Mrs Owen, who flew to Mexico with her husband, Jonathon, after the accident, said they had been advised not to travel for the court case.

"We have been told it is a closed court so we would not be allowed in," she said.

"The trial is important to try to ensure other young people are not put at risk."

After Becca's death, her family set up the Becca Owen Memorial Fund to help under-privileged families enjoy days out and holidays.

The fund recently reached the £25,000 mark with Daniel Tyler, an uncle of Becca's, raising more by completing the London Marathon on Sunday.

Mrs Owen said: "We just don't want Becca to have died in vain."