Horrendous case

[Red Light]

I've not seen this horrendous case mentioned here but at least it seems to have resulted in two death by dangerous driving convictions. Wait to see what the sentences are though.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...y-Hofmeister-mowed-staged-81mph-car-race.html

 

[Thomk]

Terrible. What a thick lot we humans are.

 

[gb155]

Shocking

 

[coffeejo]

I still get cold shivers whenever I cycle down that path.

 

[ColinJ]

Terrible. What a thick lot we humans are.

What a thick lot some humans are - I knew damn well that I wouldn't be a good driver so I didn't learn to drive!

And yes - will there be an appropriate sentence this time, or will it once again be a moderate fine, suspension of driving licence and a few hours of community service?

 

[Dave Davenport]

They'll probably get less than if they'd put 'lets start a riot!' on face book and nobody did.
Whatever the sentence in this case, IMO if you kill someone by dangerous or careless driving it should be an instant lifetime driving ban.

 

[ColinJ]

Whatever the sentence in this case, IMO if you kill someone by dangerous or careless driving it should be an instant lifetime driving ban.

I'd agree with that!

I've mentioned before on the forum that my family knew a man who killed a cyclist through dangerous driving. He got off with a fine and a short ban.

When he started driving again he bought himself a fast sportscar which he promptly used as a lethal weapon down a country lane. He shot round a blind bend and mowed down a man and his grandson, killing them both. The speed of the car was such that it went through a hedge and ended up upside down in the middle of a field. The driver was fined a second time and lost his licence for a year or so. He was overheard complaining about the 'injustice' of it all, how it wasn't his fault that 'some fool was standing in the road'!

 

[downfader]

If they get a daft sentence perhaps we could show our support in some way to the family?

 

[Alun]

They'll probably get less than if they'd put 'lets start a riot!' on face book and nobody did.
Whatever the sentence in this case, IMO if you kill someone by dangerous or careless driving it should be an instant lifetime driving ban.

Agreed, but no chance of that happening, as it would "Infringe his Human Rights" Article 15 - The right to drive a motor vehicle.

 

[Davidc]

The maximum sentence (according to BBC West) is 18 years inside.

Doubt either will get this (too short IMO) much. The woman might get a few years because she lied and wriggled to try to get off.

I totally agree with Dave Davenport about lifetime driving bans. These two were doing 80mph in a residential area, in a 30 limit which is there for good reason. The girl killed and her injured friend were on a shared use cycle/footpath beside the road. Whether riding or walking is in this case irrelevant. It's so close to where I live that I go past at least a couple of times a day and like Coffeejo when there I still cringe at the thought of what happened.

 

[mumbo jumbo]

Shocking case. Similar speeds were (allegedly) involved in a recent fatality near me - again in a 30mph residential zone. I've heard no suggestion of racing though. As far as I know, the inquest has opened but only to be adjourned.
As for sentencing etc, are British Cycling aware of the Taunton case? They have a campaign about the whole investigation / judicial / sentencing side of such cases. They are aware of my friend's case.

 

[Hawk]

The maximum sentence (according to BBC West) is 18 years inside.

I do wonder what you actually have to do to get the "maximum sentence". Surely it physically isn't possible to drive any more dangerously than what we see in this case.

 

[mumbo jumbo]

I do wonder what you actually have to do to get the "maximum sentence". Surely it physically isn't possible to drive any more dangerously than what we see in this case.

Agree with this completely.

 

[dawesome]

Two joyriders whose 'cat and mouse' car chase at twice the speed limit caused the death of a young schoolgirl have both been jailed.
Leanne Burnell, 21, and her 42-year-old boyfriend Leonard Jones were speeding through Taunton, Somerset, at an average speed of 65mph when Jones lost control and overturned his Vauxhall Vectra, killing 13-year-old Amy Hofmeister.
Jones had moments earlier overtaken Burnell's Ford Focus during a 4.6 mile death race where terrified bystanders said he approached speeds of 81mph.

Jones was jailed for seven years for causing death by dangerous driving and two years concurrent for having no insurance and a licence. He was also banned from driving for seven years.
Burnell was jailed for 18 months for causing death by dangerous driving and banned from driving for two years.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2178313/Amy-Hofmeister-death-Joyriding-drivers-Leanne-Burnell-Leonard-Jones-jailed.html#ixzz21ZjKGjS3


Read more:http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2178313/Amy-Hofmeister-death-Joyriding-drivers-Leanne-Burnell-Leonard-Jones-jailed.html#ixzz21ZjFj9VY

Amy's mother Jane Hofmeister condemned the prison terms and said she had 'not received justice'.
Mrs Hofmeister, who blames Burnell for the chase and is considering appealing to get her a longer sentence, said: 'I said right from the offset I wanted justice for Amy; justice for my daughter; she was killed and taken from me.
'I don t believe I have received justice today. So the fight will continue.
'As far as I am concerned I am going to do everything in my power to take this forward.
'Eighteen months - I don t understand. Eighteen months is five months more than it has taken to get this case to court in the first place.
'My life sentence started on June 15, 2011 at 7.30pm. I have no reduction in that. Neither does my son Benjamin or my family.'

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

7 years? Pathetic!