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Original poster

To think today’s article about Auriol Grey paint a very different picture

1000 replies

HibiscusBlues · 26/03/2023 18:56

I was sad to see articles today about the woman jailed for the death of a cyclist. At the time of the offence she was living in a home for the disabled. If this is the case my experience is places like that aren’t easily available.
Shes partially blind, has balance problems and cognitive difficulties after a birth injury to the brain. She’s had related brain surgery.
If this is the case, as her family’s appeal stated, then there does seem a disconnect with the judge saying no difficulties that impacted her actions. Accessing supported living yet being deemed able-bodied and cognitively normal by a court.
Obviously the incident was horrendous for the Ward family, and the cyclist need not deserve to die. It’s a sad case. However the handling of the case is starting to sound uncomfortable. What have others thought of the articles today?

OP posts:
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ReneBumsWombats · 26/03/2023 21:28

The truth is though, locking someone up away from their family doesn't bring the people you love back to you.

The purpose of prison is not to revive the dead.

Tietheapron · 26/03/2023 21:29

Was she close to her sister? She didn’t appear to have been close to anyone, and everyone kept their distance.

A custodial sentence won’t bring back anyone, but no custodial sentence does. Custodial sentences don’t act as a time machine, do they? Protection, punishment and rehabilitation. The first two are definitely applicable.

cyclamenqueen · 26/03/2023 21:30

ReneBumsWombats · 26/03/2023 21:28

The truth is though, locking someone up away from their family doesn't bring the people you love back to you.

The purpose of prison is not to revive the dead.

It’s not vengeance either .

Tietheapron · 26/03/2023 21:31

But part of it is punishment, which probably is not all that different.

ReneBumsWombats · 26/03/2023 21:32

cyclamenqueen · 26/03/2023 21:30

It’s not vengeance either .

Show quote history

No, very true.

Bimblybomeyelash · 26/03/2023 21:37

I’ve seen the video. Auriol was walking in the middle of the pavement, gesticulating wildly. She was a clear hazard and the cyclist could have dismounted and waited for her to pass. I certainly would have done in that situation. I often cycle on shared paths rather than in the road, but I’m always very aware that it’s a footpath, and that pedestrians may not realise bikes are allowed, and also that pedestrians are the more vulnerable user. I I slow right down when I pass and I stop and get off if I need to.

clairelouwho · 26/03/2023 21:39

Bimblybomeyelash · 26/03/2023 21:37

I’ve seen the video. Auriol was walking in the middle of the pavement, gesticulating wildly. She was a clear hazard and the cyclist could have dismounted and waited for her to pass. I certainly would have done in that situation. I often cycle on shared paths rather than in the road, but I’m always very aware that it’s a footpath, and that pedestrians may not realise bikes are allowed, and also that pedestrians are the more vulnerable user. I I slow right down when I pass and I stop and get off if I need to.

Nice bit of victim blaming.

Tietheapron · 26/03/2023 21:43

I would have thought the cyclist would have just wanted to get past her as quickly as possible. If I saw someone behaving like that, no way would I slow down or dismount my bike as that would elicit aggression.

ZeroWorshipHere · 26/03/2023 21:44

holachicas · 26/03/2023 19:41

@Fluffodils
I think everyone’s idea of aggressive differs…I’d see aggressive as entering my personal space, pushing me off the road or shouting at me, etc.

Judging by the video I’d just think they were grumpy because I was a cyclist on the pavement but, as I say, everyone is different.

But she did shout at the cyclist, entered her personal space and attempted to push her - in her police interview she said she made contact

ReneBumsWombats · 26/03/2023 21:44

She was a clear hazard and the cyclist could have dismounted and waited for her to pass.

The cyclist could have not left her house that day. She could have taken the bus. She could have done anything.

As it is, she was killed because Grey sent her into the road.

GrasstrackGirl · 26/03/2023 21:47

My husband has Cerebral Palsy, if he encounters a cyclist on the pavement can he push them into the path of a car rather than standing to the side to let them pass like he usually does?

loislovesstewie · 26/03/2023 21:56

Perhaps it would be better if cyclists weren't on the pavement for the benefit and safety of vulnerable people who have to walk on them.

clairelouwho · 26/03/2023 22:02

loislovesstewie · 26/03/2023 21:56

Perhaps it would be better if cyclists weren't on the pavement for the benefit and safety of vulnerable people who have to walk on them.

Perhaps it would be better if people wouldn't behave in an aggressive manner that cause people to die.

ASimpleLampoon · 26/03/2023 22:04

Ponoka7 · 26/03/2023 19:00

We have rapists, organised crime bosses and murders absconding after being given bail, but she was denied. It's interesting because pedophiles have escaped incarceration because they had similar issues and to accommodate them within the prison system would be too difficult. The judge did seem to have it in for her. She'll lose her possessions because she has no-one to store them for her.

Rapists Pedos abusers rarely get a custodial sentence of they get to court at all.

Her issues would make her terrified of cyclists hurtling towards her.

I'm ND nowhere near as impacted as her and I am jumpy as hell due to poor etiquette of cyclists electric scooters erc. There are so many of them and they all seen to follow different rules.

With no clear system regarding what cyclists et c should be doing and where it can be very disconcerting.

I have been in other countries where there are many more cyclists but as the rules are clear and you know where they are supposed to be its less scary.

T b h I think snowman and misogyny are at play here.

ASimpleLampoon · 26/03/2023 22:04

Ableis m not snowman!

Tietheapron · 26/03/2023 22:08

One thing that Grey wasn’t was scared.

Nospringchix · 26/03/2023 22:10

roaringmouse · 26/03/2023 20:39

There are lots of vulnerable people living in our society without adequate care and support to meet their needs. The fact that the judge decided Muriel's disabilities didn't deem her less 'responsible' for her actions, could be indicative of a much deeper problem with our social care and support systems, such that her disabilities and the impact they had on her and others, were not properly understood and/or documented. This will have led to the judge not having proper evidence to draw upon when making his decision as to how 'responsible' she was or wasn't. I wonder if and when the last time Muriel had her Care Plan reviewed for example, and whether her eligible needs for care and support were actually being met.

Personally I think this is a terrible miscarriage of justice. Prison is no place for such a vulnerable person such as Muriel.

Yes, I agree with you. Auriol's support needs may well have not been sufficiently assessed and documented given the lack of funding/ staff to do this leading to the evidence not being there to enable a fair and just sentencing decision. I personally think this is a miscarriage of justice too.
She will be very vulnerable in prison. She is now in the general population according to the article in the Times which seems worrying given her disabilities.

ZeroWorshipHere · 26/03/2023 22:44

When that pedestrian is observably disabled, flapping their hands and shouting, the onus is even more on the cyclist to stop.

according to the sentencing remarks, Celia did stop. They stopped in front of each other, AG swung her arm and Celia toppled into the path of a car. AG is not blameless because she’s disabled.

Kedece2410 · 26/03/2023 22:47

SweetCoriander · 26/03/2023 19:09

Did this woman even have a solicitor advocate in court? I'm assuming she had no barrister? It just seems as if no adequate defence was put forward to be considered, just the prosecution's position.

Not only did she have a barrister she had a KC no less & a 'legal team' She was well represented

Lizzt2007 · 26/03/2023 23:59

Mummyoflittledragon · 26/03/2023 21:27

As a physically disabled woman myself, I find it outrageous that the judge decided she didn’t feel vulnerable on the pavement. The more I read about this case, the more I feel compassion for Auriol Grey.

Show quote history

If I felt vulnerable that a cyclist was coming towards me I would move to the side. I would not aggressively move towards the cyclist waving my arms and shouting.

Blossomtoes · 27/03/2023 00:05

loislovesstewie · 26/03/2023 21:56

Perhaps it would be better if cyclists weren't on the pavement for the benefit and safety of vulnerable people who have to walk on them.

It’s a shared pathway. These signs are all within a minute’s walk of the scene.

To think today’s article about Auriol Grey paint a very different picture
To think today’s article about Auriol Grey paint a very different picture
To think today’s article about Auriol Grey paint a very different picture
To think today’s article about Auriol Grey paint a very different picture
Shulk · 27/03/2023 00:12

Auriol Grey assaulted the cyclist.

Most likely, she pushed her into the road. Alternatively, she didn’t generate enough force to push the cyclist into the road, but deliberately swung her arm at the cyclist (who was nearly past her), making light contact, causing the cyclist to lose control while trying to avoid being assaulted.

I find the support for her absolutely staggering.

TheShellBeach · 27/03/2023 00:22

Cyclists shouldn't be on pavements.

Shulk · 27/03/2023 00:26

TheShellBeach · 27/03/2023 00:22

Cyclists shouldn't be on pavements.

Killing people is wrong.

Blossomtoes · 27/03/2023 00:30

TheShellBeach · 27/03/2023 00:22

Cyclists shouldn't be on pavements.

You didn’t RTFT, did you? You didn’t even look at the pictures two posts above yours. 🙄

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