I'd never heard of the guy until this case - watched a few vids on Youtube...cant quite find the right words...all I'm getting is 'knobhead'
Charlie Alliston case - fixie rider accused of causing pedestrian death
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I'd never heard of the guy until this case - watched a few vids on Youtube...cant quite find the right words...all I'm getting is 'knobhead'
Flick of the Elbow
Guru
- Location
- Pentlands & West Lothian
An absolute travesty. I'm reminded of another example of British 'justice' in the case of the Appin murder. No surprise then that the Stewart accused was found guilty by the Campbell jury and sentenced to hang by the Campbell judge. I bet the judge in this case was wishing she had the option of the gibbet too.
Having now read the sentencing comments it does change my view somewhat of how much sympathy I want afford Alliston. I'm now of the opinion that he needs psychiatric treatment in an detained environment, as he clearly is showing psychopathic tendencies (the suicide threats to his girlfriend, the self justifying internet posts, maintaining his innocence up until being sentenced and most likely still now).
I would still like to refrain though from using the kind of 'he's a filthy killer' style comments I've seen on Twitter and DM comment section. Some people seem to want to ignore that he didn't set out to collide into someone.
I would still like to refrain though from using the kind of 'he's a filthy killer' style comments I've seen on Twitter and DM comment section. Some people seem to want to ignore that he didn't set out to collide into someone.
slowmotion
Quite dreadful
- Location
- lost somewhere
Never mind his attitude after the event, I really don't think (for someone of his age at the time) that he behaved wickedly at the time of the accident. Stupidly maybe, but didn't we all? I think his sentence is pretty outrageous in the general context of road traffic offence penalties.
Profpointy
Legendary Member
Some of the judge's comments are troubling even for sensible cyclists. Her reference to no helmet and no bell as indicative or recklessness and by implication guilt. Also the reference to watching videos of stunt riding as some kind of character flaw. I've watched videos of the Isle of Man TT - but am a very timid motorcylist. Hey I've even watched the car chase in the French Connection but I wouldn't drive like that. And for that matter I've watched Titus but that doesn't mean taking bloody revenge on all and sundry. The reported expert witness's talk of brake effectiveness seems close to perjury unless there's a wider caveat to what he said in full.
That said I have less issue with the verdict per se, as riding like a twat resulting in the poor woman's death is indefencable really even if it is extremely unlikely a motorist would even have been convicted for a similar level of blame.
That said I have less issue with the verdict per se, as riding like a twat resulting in the poor woman's death is indefencable really even if it is extremely unlikely a motorist would even have been convicted for a similar level of blame.
srw
It's a bit more complicated than that...
...whereas it's clear frpm the judgement that Alliston took exactly the opposite view. He himself drew an explicit parallel between what he watched and his own behaviour.
I'm slightly concerned about the helmet and bell comments, but only slightly - the judge is only rehashing the "common sense" "arguments" this place is chock-full of.
growingvegetables
Guru
- Location
- Leeds
from the sentencing comments, these were related to stress of the trial and threat of imprisonment, not remorse or regret over his actions.
GrumpyGregry
Here for rides.
Yeahbut he's "our" tosser so we are expected to side with him. Did you not get the memo?
Origamist
Legendary Member
I found this part of the judge's sentencing remarks telling as it is another factor that might explain why the jury found Charlie Alliston guilty:
"but I am satisfied on the evidence that you saw her as she stepped off the kerb".
As it was stated he had 3.8 seconds to react when she stepped off the kerb, there was seemingly time to brake with or without a front brake.
I think the sentence is appropriate, but I do find various apsects of this tragic case concerning.
"but I am satisfied on the evidence that you saw her as she stepped off the kerb".
As it was stated he had 3.8 seconds to react when she stepped off the kerb, there was seemingly time to brake with or without a front brake.
I think the sentence is appropriate, but I do find various apsects of this tragic case concerning.
GrumpyGregry
Here for rides.
So why did she not go for the maximum she felt able to?
slowmotion
Quite dreadful
- Location
- lost somewhere
I don't want to go over old ground, but at risk of knee-jerk "victim blaming" accusations, she did have some responsibility to ensure her own safety.
Globalti
Legendary Member
Slightly disingenuous. You don't have any means of getting your hands on a fast racing motorbike or a fast American muscle car or the empty roads you would need. The Lucas Brunelle style of cycling is possible for anybody who feels reckless or arrogant enough. And on arrogance, I'm quite willing to admit that my teens to late twenties were a time of selfish arrogance, not the best time in my young adulthood and I don't look back on that time with pride at some of the things I did or decisions I took, but I don't think I was schizophrenic.
Flick of the Elbow
Guru
- Location
- Pentlands & West Lothian
The charge of 'furious cycling' is so open to interpretation that the anti cycling establishment could go after any one of us now. Cycling without pedal reflectors, cycling what they would see as too far out from the kerb, overtaking a line of parked traffic, not wearing what they deem to be bright enough clothing, swearing at them when they step or pull out in front of us, you name it, they can go after us for anything now.
