Taxi Driver Jailed For Killing Cyclist

[Thor]

Link

[Julian]

Won't bring the victim back, but an improvement on the usual points-and-a-fine.

[andygates]

Excellent.

[Noodley]

Another seven year sentence here:


   Drug-driver jailed for killing man and dog - Scotsman.com News


Interesting to note the judge's comment on making roads safer....

[Jaded]

7 years seems to be the norm.

Half the available sentence.

[andygates]

The trend is in the right direction.  Two years ago, al the stories were of 2-year sentences.

[teethgrinder]

7 years seems to be the norm.

Half the available sentence.

Yes, there was a clever lawyer bloke on the radio talking about why the footballer who killed two kids and crippled their dad only got 7 years instead of the maximum 14.
The judge can only follow the legal system. It has very little to do with the personal opinion of the judge, they have to apply law, not opinion. It's more of a cold blooded calculation, more akin to mathematics.
Because the footballer fessed up at the first opurtunity, was a good guy, remnoursefull and all the rest stacked the odds in his favour for a lesser sentence.
So that would explain why they only got half the maximum sentence, I hope.

[Regulator]

I'm still appalled that drink driving is not considered 'dangerous driving'.  If driving whilst intoxicated is not dangerous then I don't know what is...

[Jacomus]

Seriously, just what does one have to do to get charged with 'dangerous driving'?

[ian]

Seriously, just what does one have to do to get charged with 'dangerous driving'?

I'm also beginning to think that it's not possible to drive dangerously. It's really just a case of "oops, I just happened to get drunk and hit and kill someone".

I suppose I can express some cold amusement at the defence comment:

"Unfortunately, as is true in most of these cases, the people involved often are of very good previous character. She is no different. She has been shocked by this incident and her health has suffered."

Like I say, oops.

[clarion]

"Unfortunately, as is true in most of these cases, the people involved often are of very good previous character. She is no different. She has been shocked by this incident and her health has suffered."

[blackpuddinonnabike]

Seriously, just what does one have to do to get charged with 'dangerous driving'?

I was discussing this with Mel last night (ex-fiscal up here) and what it boils down to is a charge of 'dangerous' driving is completely separate from the consequences - focussed entirely on the quality of driving. If the driver had been haring down the street weaving about lanes at 120mph, that would have been dangerous.

Not seeing someone and driving into them? That's careless.

Now I countered with what I'm sure you are thinking. But surely getting into a car tanked up implies and creates dangerous driving? Not the way it's all currently drafted. Drink driving is a separate offence.

[JohnP]

7 years seems to be the norm.

Half the available sentence.

Because the footballer fessed up at the first opurtunity, was a good guy, remnoursefull and all the rest stacked the odds in his favour for a lesser sentence.
So that would explain why they only got half the maximum sentence, I hope.

Sadly, you are right TG.  I live in WGC and have followed this case since day 1 (when the accident, please help signs went up).  This driver was drunk, ran away, lied, showed no remorse.  More than 7 years would have been right for him IMO. 

[RichardD]

Seriously, just what does one have to do to get charged with 'dangerous driving'?

Not seeing someone and driving into them? That's careless.

I can't help thinking that not looking properly when driving is dangerous.