Michael Leach has pleaded not guilty to causing death by dangerous driving

Michael Leach, 29, had been on the telephone talking to his sister for two minutes and 33 seconds when the line went dead, Exeter Crown Court was told.

She heard a loud scream when Mr Leach's Vauxhall Astra collided with a Ford Fiesta, killing passenger Jean Evans.

Mr Leach, of Kinnerton Way, Exeter, pleads not guilty to causing Mrs Evans's death by dangerous driving on the A30 near Marazanvose, Cornwall, on the night of 29 July last year.

Head-on collision

David Osbourne, prosecuting, told the courts Mr Leach was driving with his girlfriend to visit his parents in St Ives.

He had spent the day working at a Comet store in Torquay, picked up his girlfriend in Paignton, drove to Exeter to pick up his belongings and then set off for Cornwall about 7.30pm.

"This case is really going to depend on the use of the defendant's mobile phone in the course of the journey," said Mr Osbourne.

From records which would be produced, the jury would see that in the course of nearly two hours of driving he used the mobile phone six times.

He said the defendant drove across the single carriageway road into the path of the Fiesta driven by David Evans, husband of the victim.

It appeared impossible for Mr Evans, from Tiverton, to avoid a virtual head-on collision said the prosecutor.

Mr Leach, who was also injured in the crash, later told police he had been travelling between 60 and 70mph.

He said he did not recall anything about the accident itself. Mr Osbourne said Mr Leach had a hands-free set for the mobile telephone, which had an earpiece.

"It follows, of course, if you are making calls you have still got to physically put in calls," said Mr Osbourne.

When asked by the police if the mobile phone may have caused him to lose concentration Leach replied: "I do not know."