BTCC's Frank Wrathall in court after cyclist collision
Discussion
Someone has lost a child. I have no sympathy with the idiot that caused the death of another human being. The trial judge will decide his fate and my hope is that the punishment will be proportionate to the crime and whatever the outcome the family of the deceased will feel justice has served them well.
Funny, when I posted on here some time ago about whether I should report someone in a large van who'd been driving a few feet off my back bumper while visibly using their phone, I was pretty much lambasted and it was suggested that I'd be a 'grass' or a 'snitch' if I were to do so. I wonder, if any of said complainants were to lose a loved one to a phone-using careless driver, they'd change their tune and wish that a 'grass' or 'snitch' had reported them some time prior, thus circumventing said loss. Perhaps with this as a reminder of what happens when selfish twunts use their phones while driving, equally selfish twunts who think you shouldn't 'grass' or 'snitch' on them might change their tune.
Daily Fail has reported the story. Some interesting remarks from the judge:
'You clearly disregarded the law and that led to the tragic death of Mr Fingleton.
'You were obviously distracted and not in proper control of the vehicle and that is why you only saw him when it was too late.
'As a touring car racing champion you should have been setting a better example for others to follow.
'Mr Fingleton had many years ahead of him, he had a very successful career and was clearly loved by his wife and daughter.
'You deprived him of a full life and deprived his family of the love and companionship he would have given.
'The message must go out to motorists that when you flout the law in this way you pay the ultimate price by going to prison.'
'He was wearing a brightly coloured top it - it had been a fine sunny day and I'm satisfied you should have seen him earlier and taken action.
'Both of the witness drivers saw Mr Fingleton in good time. A driver must take the conditions as finds them. You didn't take the necessary care to see him on time, you didn't observe him until it was too late.
'There's no doubt in my judgement that he could be seen clearly. It's difficult to understand why this accident happened except you were holding a mobile phone at the time.'
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2553969/Ch...
'You clearly disregarded the law and that led to the tragic death of Mr Fingleton.
'You were obviously distracted and not in proper control of the vehicle and that is why you only saw him when it was too late.
'As a touring car racing champion you should have been setting a better example for others to follow.
'Mr Fingleton had many years ahead of him, he had a very successful career and was clearly loved by his wife and daughter.
'You deprived him of a full life and deprived his family of the love and companionship he would have given.
'The message must go out to motorists that when you flout the law in this way you pay the ultimate price by going to prison.'
'He was wearing a brightly coloured top it - it had been a fine sunny day and I'm satisfied you should have seen him earlier and taken action.
'Both of the witness drivers saw Mr Fingleton in good time. A driver must take the conditions as finds them. You didn't take the necessary care to see him on time, you didn't observe him until it was too late.
'There's no doubt in my judgement that he could be seen clearly. It's difficult to understand why this accident happened except you were holding a mobile phone at the time.'
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2553969/Ch...
I'm with you woof, I don't know how people on here can be so confident about the facts of the case. It could well have just been an accident and it may well have happened with or without a mobile being involved. No one wants to see people killed on the road, but nor do I want to see people going to jail for being caught up in accidents or where they've made mistakes. Albeit very grave ones. When its a case of because you were involved in this accident and maybe if you'd not been on your phone then this guy wouldn't have been killed, hardly an absence of reasonable doubt. It's against the law I know, but still, should a young man go to jail for it. It feels like retribution, hardly fitting in this case.
What is the answer in a case like this, I don't know. For me living with the guilt of having killed someone and a lengthy driving ban would seem more appropriate. But then as I stated before I don't have all the facts and I'm not qualified to make these judgements. It's just a real pity all round.
What is the answer in a case like this, I don't know. For me living with the guilt of having killed someone and a lengthy driving ban would seem more appropriate. But then as I stated before I don't have all the facts and I'm not qualified to make these judgements. It's just a real pity all round.
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