To think this is unreasonable and this judge knowingly scentenced this man to death

[Sootyandsweep2019]

Just read a heartbreaking story in the paper about an 87 year old man, who given a 27 month prison sentence after he killed someone in a car accident. The judge was warned at the time by the man's doctors that this was highly likely to lead to his death; but went ahead and did it anyway. As predicted, he died nine days later. This was not murder, this was not malicious; it was a complete, tragic accident.

By all means ban him from driving if he was a danger, look at tightening the driving regulations around older drivers.

But our obsession with "making people pay," for genuine accidents has led to this utter tragedy .

The poor man must have been terrified. I really think this particular judge/ case needs urgent investigation; and we need a wider look at whether prison is always an appropriate response to car accident s like this.

Sadly I don't expect the judge/ CPS/ solicitors etc. Feel guilty at all.

I agree, it’s a total disgrace.

Will add link as soon as I'm on laptop don't know how to link from phone !!

But he killed someone. Its manslaughter

Thank you Maykid, genuinely felt immensely upset reading this morning. Rather sickened by the YABU voters, hopefully they can explain why this was the best solution.

Selene28 - but he didn't have any genuine intention to kill at all. What was the purpose of locking him up ? Do you believe he was a danger to the public ?

He committed manslaughter, a car is a deadly weapon, drivers know that everytime they get behind the wheel they could seriously injure or kill someone if they choose to drive in an unsafe manner.

If it was genuinely an accident and not careless/dangerous driving he wouldn’t have been charged.

Clearly he was a danger to the public, he killed someone and apparently never apologised to the victims family

I thought the same when I read it, OP :(

It was a complete tragic accident.

Well, I can't see a link to the story, but if the person he'd killed was your child, would you think he should be let off because he's old?

But he killed someone, maimed another. He didn’t admit his actions, so therefore during the trial wouldn’t have expressed genuine remorse and so put the families through the ordeal of a trial.

What’s the alternative? An upper age limit where you can be convicted and get favourable treatment?

Yes it was an accident but jailing him? Years ago a 28 year old was speeding over a bridge near my dads house and hit and elderly cyclist. The driver then ditched his car and pissed off to Alton Towers for the day leaving my dad and 2 neighbours to comfort the dying man in the road.

The driver got community service. Apparently according to the CPS it wasn’t in the public interest to try him for man slaughter he as done for dangerous driving.

The crime is alowing 87 year old people to drive without a re test at 70/80/90 etc.

@mollibu it wasn’t an accident. It wasn’t Even careless driving he was convicted of It was death by **dangerous driving

YABU.

That kind of crime deserves a prison sentence. It was already quite short, presumably due to his age. I don’t know much about this case but I have read of several over the years where old people who clearly should no longer be driving are pigheaded and refuse to accept they’re a danger and still keep up that behaviour when they kill someone, not accepting blame or even an apology to the innocent victim’s family.

At 87 he could have died at any time anyway. He’s had his life. I’ll save my sympathy for the victim and their family.

Here’s a link.

www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/driver-87-jailed-killing-woman-21032119

He got back into the car angry after an earlier accident.

But what were the conditions of the accident?
Should he have been driving?

If it's a genuine accident, then of course it's terrible he was locked up.

If he was unfit to drive, but drove anyways, then he should be punished.

If he didn't admit guilt and put the family through the ordeal of a trial, I don't exactly have sympathy. If it was your family member he killed, would you feel differently?

He chose to get back in the car after being extremely angry with himself for already bumping the front of the car. That was a factor in his sentencing I believe. He narrowly missed a father and child before he hit the victims. What was the judge's option? The victims deserved justice, didnt they? Should his age have stopped the courts from holding him responsible for his actions?

He was guilty of manslaughter; this is where there was not an intent to kill, but someone's death resulted because of his actions.

27 months for manslaughter is probably the minimum or near the minimum the judge could sentence him to. I don't have the sentencing guidelines to hand but if you're found guilty of manslaughter then 27 months feels (based on my judgement alone) quite a light sentence.

Whilst it's a shame this man has passed away, I don't think you can blame the judge.

Well, all the people asking what I would feel if this was my child; how would you feel if this was your elderly parents/ grandparent ?

I have said he should be banned from driving, and that there should definitely be a review of driving requirements for 80+. Something that would actually make an accident like this much less likely.

And to me, it's not just older adults; I genuinely question the public interest in imprisoning first time offenders, ( of any age), for a momentary lapse in concentration.

Why on earth should someone get favourable treatment because of their age??

Do you believe he was a danger to the public ?

He obviously was. This will again start up the discussion about age limits on driving or tests.
Would you be saying the same thing is victim was the father with children who just passed?

It wasn’t “a tragic accident” it was causing death by dangerous driving.

Let’s not pretend that a poor innocent old man happened to have a tragic accident where someone died and was then prosecuted. That’s not how it was at all.

@GruciusMalfoy speaks sense. Those were the things that struck out for me and also that he didn't say sorry to the victim's family

Damn. I type slow😮