Sunderland family's quest to learn more about son's death returns to court

A family hope to finally learn more about the crash which led to their son’s death nearly three-and-a-half years ago.
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Sunderland-born Frazer Golden, 30, died following what police described at the time as a “head-on collision” between two motor bikes in the Durham Dales on Sunday, April 9, 2017.

His parents, Dan and Linda Golden, from the Chapel Garth area of the city, were left “numb with frustration” after a criminal court case against the second rider, from South Tyneside, eventually collapsed nearly two years later.

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Now a full inquest beginning on Wednesday, September 30, is examining the circumstances surrounding the former Farringdon Community Academy pupil’s death.

Dan and Linda Golden, of Chapel Garth, Sunderland, with a photograph of their late son, Frazer Golden, who died after a 2017 collision while out on his motorbike in the Durham Dales.Dan and Linda Golden, of Chapel Garth, Sunderland, with a photograph of their late son, Frazer Golden, who died after a 2017 collision while out on his motorbike in the Durham Dales.
Dan and Linda Golden, of Chapel Garth, Sunderland, with a photograph of their late son, Frazer Golden, who died after a 2017 collision while out on his motorbike in the Durham Dales.

County Durham and Darlington Coroner’s Court, in Crook, was told that a post mortem by Home Office pathologist Mark Egan concluded that Mr Golden died as a result of head, neck and chest injuries following the collision on the A689, near St John’s Chapel, in Weardale.

Both a motorcyclist riding in front of Mr Golden and another riding behind the second rider said they did not see the crash.

The second rider, who was riding a Yamaha, is expected to give evidence to the inquest on Thursday.

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Nissan maintenance worker Mr Golden, who lived with partner Helen Gaughan, 24, in Seaham, was enjoying a day out on his Honda bike with a fellow motorcyclist from work and was heading home from Alston, in Cumbria, when the collision took place at around 2pm.

Frazer Golden has been described as "Golden by name, golden by nature" by his family.Frazer Golden has been described as "Golden by name, golden by nature" by his family.
Frazer Golden has been described as "Golden by name, golden by nature" by his family.

After the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) initially decided against prosecuting the Yahama rider on the grounds of "insufficient evidence", Mr Golden’s family forced a u-turn after applying for an official Victim's Right to Review.

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Nissan maintenance worker Frazer Golden was originally from Sunderland and lived in Seaham at the time of the crash.Nissan maintenance worker Frazer Golden was originally from Sunderland and lived in Seaham at the time of the crash.
Nissan maintenance worker Frazer Golden was originally from Sunderland and lived in Seaham at the time of the crash.

Susan Hemming, the CPS’s, director of legal services, said in a letter to the family that the case “should have been prosecuted and adjudicated upon by the court”.

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