Man in court over fatal river plunge crash in Bristol

A man is due to appear in court accused of causing death by dangerous driving after a mother-of-one was killed when a car containing five people plummeted into a river in Bristol.

Shennie Jaffer, 33, from Bristol, is also charged with drink-driving and driving without insurance or a licence.

He was refused bail and is due to appear on Monday at Bristol Magistrates' Court.

The accident saw a silver BMW crash through railings at Bristol's St Philip's Bridge and into the river Avon, leaving a woman believed to be the front seat passenger and named locally as 22-year-old Namara Whisker dead.

A 21-year-old woman from Bristol who was also being held was released on police bail pending further inquiries.

Ms Whisker was pronounced dead at the scene after the BMW, containing four other passengers, went into the water at around 4am on Saturday.

Relatives of the victim are being supported by a family liaison officer and have asked to be left to grieve their loss.

But friends described the former business studies student, from the Easton area of Bristol, as "the kindest person you could ever meet" and a "fashion icon" and said she had a two-month-old son.

PA