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

[HibiscusBlues]

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?

I’m really shocked at the outcome of this case…broken down, I feel like the story is ‘vulnerable adult gestures at cyclist for being on the pavement’.

She didn’t force the cyclist onto the road and it didn’t look as though she was particularly aggressive…the cyclist could have stopped or moved into a cycle lane and the outcome of this would be so different with the start of the story being the same.

It’s very sad for all the families involved (including the drivers). Sadly, nothing isn’t going to bring the cyclist back but I do think that society forgets that some things are purely accidentally, there isn’t always a blame.

Im not surprised at the ableism from the judge. It is endemic. The cyclist should have been looking out for mkre vunerable road users and not just cycled closely to them! There are three victims here.

It's the closest they have to "dangerous driving" there are clearly certain thresholds that have to be met I'm not in the court so don't know why that bloke didn't but this lady did get done for manslaughter. Maybe the clear intention to do harm - the anger.

She was aggressive! If someone behaved like that towards me I'd be scared.

Why is a cyclist cycling if hearing impaired (I hope she was wearing a hearing aid), surely she’d need to hear a car’s horn and the approach of traffic?

Hopefully, her sentence will be increased on appeal.

😳😳😳

Can that happen?

She is rightfully in custody

And she should serve her sentence. That article changes nothing

She may have difficulties but she quite clearly pushed the victim into the path of oncoming traffic. Just awful. It was very wrong of her, no matter her disabilities.

“The UK isn’t rolling in support and funding exactly for disabled people. Looking at my local high street on any day quite a few people really need support that they don’t have. Who’s going to stop her?”

Well the supported living provider - that’s what it is and that’s what you pay for. Depends on the provider but if she acts erratically, she would have needed some medical evidence to access supported living to start with.

If you don't want bikes on pavements (where often they are legally allowed), fight for tighter controls on dangerous driving, fight for safe, useable cycle networks, fight to get the banned, drunk, uninsured drivers off the road. Fight for justice for the 40 pedestrians killed by drivers every year on our pavements.

Bikes are a nuisance on the pavement or the road. They’re not practical on a pavement with pedestrians or a road with faster moving vehicles that don’t have space to get past them. The country wasn’t designed with bikes in mind.

@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.

It was also repeatedly stated in reporting of the case that she left the scene, and the judge referred to her lack of remorse.

However this article says she stayed at the scene until moved by a bystander, and then she went to do her shopping. She was unable to respond emotionally, when informed of her sister's death (they were close) she essentially made no comment.

It's beyond wrong how she has been failed be the judicial system.

@Cakeykid
she didn’t touch her…pushing involves physical contact

My late aunt had a learning disability caused by being starved of oxygen at birth, just like Auriol Grey. She too lived in supported accommodation and was able to get out and about alone. I find it staggering that the judge did not think that her disability would have any effect on her behaviour or thought processes.

This whole case is so horribly tragic, but imprisoning a vulnerable adult isn't the correct form of justice.

She left as she didn’t know she’s had to stay- she’s stated this.

If she were that vulnerable she wouldn’t have been allowed to go out alone.

No-one ever alleged she 'pushed' the victim. She was on trial for having caused the accident by gesticulating and shouting, unnerving the victim, who then fell in front of a moving vehicle.

Don't make stuff up.

So, a Supported Living space will now be available for someone who doesnt push elderly cyclists into the path of oncoming cars.

The video clearly shows she pushed her....did she not admit it too??

She left as she didn’t know she’s had to stay- she’s stated this.

She stayed initially, before being moved by a third party. Then she left.

That's nothing like intentionally leaving the scene of an accident.

Disabled people can be dickheads too, she deserves to be in prison.

@SunshineGeorgien
no, she gestured and shouted to the cyclist to get off the pavement

The video clearly shows she pushed her....did she not admit it too??

Unless you've seen a different video, it absolutely does not.

@GrasstrackGirl
Evidently, so can mumsnetters 😳