Discussion
My Daughter's best friends suffered a most grevious loss last Christmas. At 00-30 hours on Christmas morning their 18-year old daughter was crossing the road in the centre of St. Neots, at a pedestrian crossing, when she and her boyfriend were hit by a drunken 21 year old driver in an old BMW 3-series at a speed estimated at between 57 and 65 mph. This in a 30 limit. The driver was well over the drink limit. In fact he got out of the car and said "did I just do that?" Her parents witnessed the whole episode as they had all just left the church after midnight mass, so the young lady was not 'in-drink'. Her boyfriend suffered multiple fractures which have, effectively, destroyed his career as a physical training instructor.
After 4 weks on life support the young lady lost her battle and died, the car driver being prosecuted for Death by Dangerous and DD. His sentance was 6 years inside and a 15 year ban.
However, last week an appeal judge reduced the term of imprisonment from 6 to 5 years. Oh, dear, 6 years was too long for what he did, was it? I guess he'll spend 30 months inside, come out and drive whilst disqualified.
What do we think of that then?
After 4 weks on life support the young lady lost her battle and died, the car driver being prosecuted for Death by Dangerous and DD. His sentance was 6 years inside and a 15 year ban.
However, last week an appeal judge reduced the term of imprisonment from 6 to 5 years. Oh, dear, 6 years was too long for what he did, was it? I guess he'll spend 30 months inside, come out and drive whilst disqualified.
What do we think of that then?
I have to say that the Cambridgeshire Police were absolutely fantastic in this case. They were helpful and very supportive to the family.
One police officer, in conversation with my son-in-law about this said that if you want to kill someone it is best to do it with a car, then the most you are likely to get is Death by Dangerous Driving and a very short sentance. Almost never has murder been proved when a vehicle was directly involved. Is that true, gone?
Apparently one of our national daily papers has picked up on this and has interviewed the parents this week. The young lady's parents are currently campaigning for causing death by drunken driving to be automatically made manslaughter. What success they'll have is anyone's guess.
One police officer, in conversation with my son-in-law about this said that if you want to kill someone it is best to do it with a car, then the most you are likely to get is Death by Dangerous Driving and a very short sentance. Almost never has murder been proved when a vehicle was directly involved. Is that true, gone?
Apparently one of our national daily papers has picked up on this and has interviewed the parents this week. The young lady's parents are currently campaigning for causing death by drunken driving to be automatically made manslaughter. What success they'll have is anyone's guess.
ca092003 said:
I think we are back to the old arguement: 'Do we punish the crime or the consequences of the crime'?
Personally, I think all drink drivers should go to jail.
Yes, bang 'em all up!
That's what everyone wants, but will it ever happen.
BRAKE says DD is on the increase and must be addressed. That's one bit of sense from them at long last.
The terrible situation here is that no camera could have prevented this.
If anyone is interested, I'll find out how you can add your voice to the campaign to make D by DD the equal of manslaughter in the eyes of the law, with appropriate sentances.
It had also escaped my notice that the ban in this case was reduced from 15 years to 7 years.
For the full SP on this case go 'Google' and search under 'Amy Gonzales'.
It'd bloody disgraceful that any sentance for DD or D by DD should be reduced to, in practice, just a couple of years.
For the full SP on this case go 'Google' and search under 'Amy Gonzales'.
It'd bloody disgraceful that any sentance for DD or D by DD should be reduced to, in practice, just a couple of years.
Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff