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30 May 2006
FURY AT 'JOKE FINE' FOR KILLER DRIVER
By Patrick Mulchrone And Jason Green
THE family of road victim Edna Gibbons last night told of their disgust after the speeding driver who killed her escaped with a mere £250 fine.

Relatives branded the sentence "a joke" and demanded tougher laws to stop motorists walking free after death crashes.

They were furious prosecutors refused to charge Keith Horne with causing death by dangerous driving, despite the fact he was tailgating a car which he overtook on the inside at 50mph in a 40mph zone before ploughing into 78-year-old gran Edna as she left a bingo hall.

He could have faced up to 14 years in jail. But he was hit with the lesser charge of careless driving which carries a maximum fine of £2,500 - and officials believe there is more chance of getting a conviction for.

Edna's son-in-law Robert Hurst said he was astounded 26-year-old Horne was not locked up.

He added: "This is the kind of punishment for not paying your TV licence, not killing someone. It's a joke."

And her son Jeff told of his anger that Horne did not even get the maximum fine and was only banned from driving for 18 months.

The 47-year-old warehouseman said: "They have valued my mother's life at just £250. The family is disgusted and we feel cheated.

"Is that all she was worth? He should have gone to prison for what he did, instead he'll be on the road again in less than two years. It beggars belief this ratbag walked away from court with hardly a slap on the wrist. My family is devastated. I wish those who sentence these thugs would think about the effects on families.

"I'm sick to death of these crazy drivers hurting and killing innocent people. And the magistrates should be ashamed of themselves. Horne has not even written to say sorry."

Edna, who had two grandchildren Andrew, 15, and Adam, nine, died last November in Kensington, Liverpool, when she tried to cross the road to catch a bus.

The retired cleaner was hit so hard by Horne's Volkswagen Bora her leg was torn off and found later in a nearby garden.

Horne, of Huyton, admitted careless driving when he appeared before Liverpool magistrates.

Road safety campaigners blasted the sentence.

Roadpeace said: "For a fine of just £250 to be imposed on a person whose actions led to such tragic consequences, is unacceptable.

"This case highlights the need for reform of penalties for people who cause death and serious injury on our roads."

The Crown Prosecution Service defended its decision not to charge Horne with dangerous driving - and even claimed widow Edna contributed to the collision. Liverpool district prosecutor Norman Larkin said: "There was a combination of factors.

"Mrs Gibbons walked out on to the road when witnesses say it was not safe to do so. Mr Horne was in the middle lane and his view would have been blocked by traffic."

A new offence of causing death by careless driving - which carries up to five years in prison - has been introduced by the Government but will not be in force until next July.

It comes after a string of killer drivers walked free from court because they were charged only with careless driving.

Among them was Shane Farrell, 31 - fined just £750 after 13-year-old Amber Lok died when she was hit by his car in Salford.

And teacher Stephen O'Donnell got a £500 fine when he killed a cyclist policeman.

LAW MUST END THIS DISGRACE
By Mary Williams of road safety charity Brake

FOR families whose loved ones have been killed, the law hinges on a tiny difference in legal definitions.

With death by dangerous driving the Crown must prove the standard fell "far below ... a careful and competent driver" and the culprit can get 14 years.

With careless driving it has only to fall "below the standard" and the most punishment is a pathetic fine. The Road Safety Bill going through Parliament proposes a new charge of death by careless driving with a jail sentence.

But the definition of careless driving will remain so it is a bodge that will help only in some cases. What is desperately needed, as well as charges for killer drivers, is charges for drivers who maim - there is no equivalent of grievous bodily harm behind the wheel.

We need much clearer, tougher laws. We need judges to impose tougher sentences on high risk drivers, often young men who think - rightly in this case - they can get away with it.

A £250 fine for breaking the speed limit by 10mph and performing an illegal manoeuvre is a national disgrace.

The Crown Prosecution Service defended its decision not to charge Horne with dangerous driving - and even claimed widow Edna contributed to the collision.

"Mrs Gibbons walked out on to the road when witnesses say it was not safe to do so. Mr Horne was in the middle lane and his view would have been blocked by traffic."

A £250 fine for breaking the speed limit by 10mph and performing an illegal manoeuvre is a national disgrace.

A £250 fine for breaking the speed limit by and performing an illegal manoeuvre is a national disgrace.

but I don’t believe this accident was as cut and dry as people where making out. Where the crown prosecution right in this case?

This is the kind of punishment for not paying your TV licence, not killing someone. It's a joke.

Sixty_the_red thanks for bringing this posting to my attention.

Daily Mail version at; http://www.safespeed.org.uk/forum/viewt ... 3469#83469