Best-selling author’s daughter-in-law and her three dogs killed by drunk Audi driver
A bestselling author’s daughter-in-law and her three dogs were killed when a drugged Audi TT driver rammed her, a court heard on Tuesday.
Olivia Riley, 41, was walking along Chelsea Embankment when she was hit by an Audi TT driven by 28-year-old pizzeria Laszlo Dancs.
Ms Riley, the daughter-in-law of best-selling author Lucinda Riley, died along with her two golden Labradors and golden retriever Darcy on May 14 last year.
Dancs admitted causing death by reckless driving, driving under the influence of drugs and driving under the influence of alcohol at the Old Bailey on Tuesday.
He denied not cooperating with a preliminary breath test.
Dancs had 128 mg of benzoylecgonine in his system and 137 mg of alcohol in a blood sample, above the legal limit of 80 mg.
He works as a team leader in a pizzeria in north London, the court heard.
Ms Riley’s uncle, Mark Riley, paid tribute to a “beautiful and fun” woman who “just lit up the room for everyone”.
He said she worked as a literary assistant for her mother-in-law until her death last year from cancer.
He said: “Olivia was one in a million and no one can accept this tragedy, this loss. She saw the best in everyone.
Judge Philip Katz, KC, released Dancs ahead of sentencing on July 28.
He said: “I don’t want you leaving today thinking that because you’re out on bail you won’t get jail time, there’s a good chance you will.”
He also received an interim driving ban ahead of a new sentencing order.
Dancs, of Acton, east London, admitted to causing death by dangerous driving, driving a motor vehicle with a specified controlled drug over the limit and driving a motor vehicle with a limit of alcohol above the prescribed limit.
He denied that he did not cooperate with a preliminary breathalyzer test and the violation will be recorded.
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