A MAN accused of causing a friend's death by driving his car dangerously is not giving evidence at his trial.

A jury was told by Stuart Callaghan's barrister there was no point in him taking the witness stand as his only memory was playing on a bandit machine in a pub beforehand.

Counsel Mr Richard Clews told the jury at Preston Crown Court: "It is perfectly possible in this case for the whole case to be decided by the expert evidence.

"If you were not sure Mr Callaghan was driving, that will be the end of it."

The court has heard how Paul Hayhurst, 24, died after he and the defendant had watched Liverpool triumph over Milan in the Champions League final of May 2005.

Both men had been drinking as they watched the game.

The last pub they visited was the Green Man at Inglewhite.

Callaghan, 27, of Derby Road, Longridge, denies causing death by dangerous driving on May 25 2005.

Last week an expert witness called by the prosecution told the jury that in his opinion the defendant had been driving.

Called by the defence as an expert witness, John Manderson said he thought Mr Hayhurst had been driving at the time of the collision with a tree.

He believed driver error had caused the Vauxhall Astra to leave the road.

The court had heard there was no dispute that Callaghan had been driving the Astra, which he owned, earlier in the evening.

The prosecution maintain that he was also the driver when it left Whittingham Road on a gentle bend at speed, hitting a tree and ploughing through garden hedges.