A prominent Norfolk solicitor was found not guilty of causing death by careless driving this afternoon.

Iain MacBrayne, 64, a senior partner at Hayes and Storr Solicitors, was involved in a head-on car crash in which Stephen West, 54, of Tattersett, near Fakenham, died.

Mr MacBrayne, of Sculthorpe Road, Fakenham, had been seen veering gradually onto the wrong side of the road moments before the crash at Dunton Patch near Fakenham on January 18 last year.

Mr MacBrayne had said during the three-day trial at Ipswich Crown Court that all he could remember of the incident was a flash of light and a bang.

Defence barrister Katharine Moore had presented evidence from five medical professionals who all believed the most likely cause of the crash was that Mr MacBrayne had suffered a 'cardiac event' – where his heartbeat increased rapidly moments before the collision – and was in a state of impaired consciousness.

Graham Parkins QC, prosecuting, had argued that the crash had been caused by a momentary lapse of concentration.

The jury took about three hours to reach the verdict of 'not guilty by insanity'. The word insanity in this case is a legal term meaning that Mr MacBrayne was not in voluntary control of his vehicle.

For the full story, see tomorrow's EDP.