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The case against a Bedfordshire couple charged over the death of 13-year-old Noah Campbell has been fixed for trial at Northampton Crown Court on 28 September 2026, with proceedings expected to span five days . The development marks a significant escalation in the judicial process, moving the matter to a higher court where a jury will determine the fate of the two defendants who remain in custody.
Jamie Fountain, 24, a groundworker of Fir Tree Close, Flitwick, appeared at Northampton Crown Court on 5 May wearing a grey tracksuit for a preliminary hearing, where no pleas were entered . His co-accused, Ellie Ireland, 23, of Wingate Drive, Ampthill, was notably absent from that hearing due to court video technology failures, with her case subsequently heard separately the following day . Her Honour Judge Rebecca Crane confirmed the transfer of the case from Luton Crown Court to Northampton, where the full trial will now be heard.
Fountain faces a comprehensive catalogue of allegations stemming from the 11:50pm collision on Greenfield Road, Flitwick, during the Easter Bank Holiday weekend . The charges include causing death by careless driving, and a second count of causing death by careless driving while over the legal limit for both alcohol and drugs . He is also charged with two counts of causing serious injury by careless driving, failing to stop at the scene, failing to report the accident within 24 hours, and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.
Ireland, an easyJet cabin crew member, faces a single charge of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, reflecting prosecutorial focus on the couple's alleged conduct immediately following the impact . Both defendants were remanded in custody at Luton Magistrates' Court in April and have remained in detention since.
Noah Campbell, described by his family as a "fun, bright, handsome, athletic and incredibly well-liked" boy who cherished spending time with friends and family, died from a traumatic brain injury shortly after the collision. An inquest opened and adjourned by area coroner Bina Patel in April remains suspended pending the outcome of the criminal proceedings.
Two other teenage boys sustained serious injuries in the incident. One remains in hospital in a serious condition, while the second has been discharged but continues to receive medical oversight for his injuries . Police have confirmed that investigators are expected to conduct forensic reconstructions and finalise toxicological reports ahead of the trial to determine the exact circumstances of the impact.
Fountain is scheduled to appear again at Northampton Crown Court on 17 July, where he is expected to formally enter his pleas. The trial itself is fixed for late September 2026, with both defendants currently remanded in custody. In a tribute to Noah issued via police, his family said they are "utterly devastated" and that his death "has left a hole in our lives that will remain forever".
As Daily Dazzling Dawn has previously reported, the couple's initial appearance at Luton Magistrates' Court in April revealed the BMW involved and the specific roles of the accused during the fatal incident . Family members from both sides filled the courtroom, with a palpable sense of gravity permeating proceedings. Police maintain a reassurance presence in Flitwick as the community continues to pay tribute to Noah, a "talented and versatile sportsman" who loved attending Liverpool FC and Luton Town matches . For his family, the wait for September marks the beginning of a long pursuit of accountability in what has become one of Bedfordshire's most closely watched criminal cases of the year.
