FRIENDS of York bus crash victim Mohamed Eltahtawy fear they may never know the full truth of what happened the night he died.

Those who knew the popular Egyptian welcomed the decision by James Christopher Glenton, 21, to admit causing his death and called today for him to be given a sentence "fitting the crime".

The 49-year-old died after a bus travelling from the Ikon & Diva nightclub smashed into a partition wall of the Churchill Hotel, Bootham, then struck the parapet of a nearby railway bridge, early on April 16.

As reported in later editions of yesterday's Evening Press, Glenton has pleaded guilty at Leeds Crown Court to the manslaughter of Mr Eltahtawy, who was trapped under masonry on the First-operated bus, and who died shortly afterwards with a passenger holding his hand.

No inquest is planned into Mr Eltahtawy's death, a spokesman for the York coroner said today.

Peter Edwards, First commercial manager, said it was believed from the driver's statement that Glenton had pulled the bus steering wheel away from him after demanding to be let off.

A forthcoming court hearing is expected to reveal more facts about the case.

But friends are worried that the full details of exactly how the crash happened may never come to light, as the court heard that Glenton "had no proper memory of the fatal crash".

Ronald Pethick, 35, who was a close friend of the victim and lived with him for a short time, said he was pleased they had been spared the ordeal of a trial.

But he said: "I would've liked to have heard what went on during the night in question because now we won't get much detail.

"It's a terrible tragedy that Mohamed is no longer with us and nothing is going to bring him back. But at least he (Glenton) has admitted his responsibility, and I hope that the courts deliver a sentence that is fitting to his crime."

Mandy Young, 38, from Acomb, who knew Mr Eltahtawy for more than 20 years, said: "I'm worried that we may never know what happened. We need to know to get some peace."

Meanwhile, Mr Eltahtawy's girlfriend, Carol Knowles, 46, of Haxby, who received a call from him moments before the crash to say he was on his way home, chose not to attend the court hearing.

She told the Evening Press: "I'm glad he (Glenton) has pleaded guilty. I'm just taken aback by it all to be honest."

Simon Wadsworth, of Tedder Road, Acomb, was thrown over four rows of seats and temporarily knocked unconscious, when the bus crashed. He had got on the vehicle after a night out drinking at Ikon & Diva nightclub with his friend, Tom Hartley. "I'm pleased that somebody has been brought to justice," he said. "I've still got bad memories of that night."

The case against Glenton was adjourned, and he was remanded in custody for sentence at Leeds on September 10.

Updated: 10:23 Wednesday, August 04, 2004