AN Afghan refugee faced a court this week charged with causing three deaths by dangerous driving in a Hindhead crash.

Abdul Rahim Jamal, 30, was alleged to have swerved across the A3 "for no apparent reason" smashing into an oncoming car on January 11.

Motorist James Bourke, 46, from Holloway Hill, Godalming, was killed instantly and Jamals's two passengers - his brother and a friend also died.

Jamal, who escaped with just cuts and bruises, pleaded not guilty to causing their deaths when he appeared at Guildford Crown Court.

A jury heard that Mr Bourke, who was driving a Rover, was found to have been three times over the drink-drive limit but the prosecution claimed this did not contribute to the accident.

Gino Connor, prosecuting said Jamal was driving along the A3 to Portsmouth when his Laguna smashed into the Rover travelling the other way, spinning it 180 degrees.

He said: "Mr Eddie Oliver travelling behind the Rover saw what happened and braked very quickly but was not able to stop, and hit the back of the Rover. This impact did not contribute to the deaths of the three men in any way."

"The prosecution suggests the overwhelming cause of this accident was down to the defendant driving the Laguna. He lost control of the car - that's what happened."

The court heard that Jamal, who does not speak or write English, and had an interpreter, was wearing his seatbelt and believed his passengers were too. He told police he believed the oncoming Rover had its lights on full beam.

His statement said: "I was dazzled and hit the left kerb. This impact caused me to swerve to the middle of the road. I did not know what had happened.."

Mr Oliver said: "I saw a car coming the other way and it looked like it was doing about 70 mph. It suddenly swerved on to our side of the road real quick. It was not a gradual thing - it was a real shunt.

"The Rover did not have time to brake and hit the passenger side in the front of the Laguna..

Tommy Budd, a passenger in Mr Oliver's car, told the court the Rover was being driven as if the driver had been drinking.

"The Laguna looked like it was travelling fast but I couldn't say what speed. It just suddenly swerved across the road. It looked like someone had grabbed the wheel and yanked it hard. There was no way the Rover could have avoided the collision."

The case continues.