3 years for killing 6 people?

[gina32]

is this a joke a foreign driver got 3 years of which he will serve 1 year for killing 6 members of a family through "careless driving" its disgusting like the family said it was a circus in court

[ummmm]

It's the law. They can only sentence people as the law states. He wasn't done for murder but death by dangerous driving.

[horselady]

Absolutely sickening.

[gina32]

i know, and its all wrong, he killed 6 people, he was looking at a laptop on the passengers seat whilst driving,

[gina32]

careless driving not dangerous driving

[daffy654]

Is your complaint more to do with the fact this driver was 'foreign' or that he got such a light sentence?
Personally I think his nationality is irrelevant,he should have got a longer time inside regardless,unfortunately the judge has to follow sentencing guidelines and had to make the six terms of 3 years run concurrently not consecutively.
By the way,it wasn't proved that the driver had been looking at his laptop......it seems likely that he was but the law needs proof.

[anotheoldgit]

Mr Justice Irwin said,
'I bear in mind the maximum sentence is five years, although six deaths, this was one episode and the prison sentences must be concurrent.

If the maximum sentence is 5 years, why wasn't he given the maximum, seeing that he killed 6 people?

[gina32]

it was said on sky news that in court that he was looking at the laptop for a different route because of the traffic

[gina32]

no my complaint want that he was foreign but it has been proved that foreign drivers are not as "good "as uk driviers because they are on the opposite side of the road

[Ethel]

There is a massive difference in a person deliberately setting out to kill another person, by any method, and a person driving carelessly which results in death(s).

There was another thread here by a person who is being 'done' for careless driving - the sun was blinding and he couldn't see but pulled out of his cul de sac anyway and hit a cyclist - minor injuries.
Some posters said 'accidents happen' and the poster could not accept he had done anything wrong.
It was pure chance the poster didn't kill anybody, and it is tragic that the car this lorry driver hit was carrying 6 people and they died.

I think the sentence is right - it is not the result of the action he can be judged for, but the action he did. He would have been just as guilty had he hit a crash barrier with no injuries.

[paraffin]

gina32, It works both ways - there have been instances of Brits being involved in horrific driving instances abroad as well. However, the law of any land cannot and should not be changed just because of your nationality.
It does, on the face of it, seem I've no doubt to lots of people that this guy got off lightly. But it's not his fault if the law is not as punitive as some of us may wish it to be.
If you feel so strongly about it, lobby your local MP, for example, to have the law stiffened. But personally I wouldn't hold my breath!

[gina32]

he was not paying attention, looking at a laptop on the passenger seat??? i wonder if youd be so forgiving if it was 6 of your family ethel?

[gina32]

lobby my mp, youre having a laugh, you obviously dont know him, i didnt say it should be different for him because of his nationality but i am saying that the sentance, for whoever it is is ttotally wrong, oh and he loses his licence for 3 years, like its going to bother him

[fredpuli47]

'Causing death by careless or inconsiderate driving' is a fairly new invention (Road Traffic Act 2006). We used to have only 'causing death by 'dangerous driving' with the result that someone whose driving was merely careless but which had the consequence of causing a death was , and could be,only charged with 'careless driving'.

'Death by dangerous' was itself introduced because juries did not like convicting anyone of the offence of manslaughter.

As pointed out, this was but one incident, and it was of 'careless driving'.

[Gromit]

no my complaint want that he was foreign but it has been proved that foreign drivers are not as "good "as uk driviers because they are on the opposite side of the road

If your complaint wasn't about him being foreign, why include that irrevevant detail? When British lorry drivers drive abroad, and drive on the other side of the road, are you saying they are dangerous?

[gina32]

no because i dont know how drivers are and if anything has been proved or disproved about british drivers abroad, i said foreign because thats what he was, if id have read about a uk driver abroad i would have put a british driver

[daffy654]

As I said before.........it was not proven that he was looking at the laptop whilst driving,yes it was mentioned in court as the police believe that was what he was doing.Believing it and proving it are two entirely different things.

[Ethel]

Gina - the law isn't emotive but of course I would be devastated at the death of any family member.

I am not forgiving, I am merely pointing out the law. The result of his action has no bearing on the sentence, only the action itself.

[Booldawg]

It has long been common knowledge; if you want to kill someone and get away with murder - run them over in your car.

[Everhelpful]

No wonder the Country is in such a state,law wise, with all the do-gooders on this thread. Perhaps if it were their Family they might have a different view.

[fredpuli47]

Booldawg, if you think that, I suggest you don't try it! If you use your car against someone, intending to cause grievous bodily harm, and kill, you'll be charged with murder soon enough (and you don't have to have intended to kill them to be guilty of it, either).

Everhelpful, how would you rewrite the common law of England (manslaughter, murder) and any statutes (Road Traffic Acts) to bring the result which you crave?