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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:
Thread gallery
24
SunshineGeorgie · 26/03/2023 20:21

Kids cycle on pavements

You don't put a 5 year old in the road.....if this had been a kid killed then the tone would change here

Because it's a 78 year old deemed unimportant then it's a different story

Snorlaxing · 26/03/2023 20:21

HibiscusBlues · 26/03/2023 19:20

The judge stated it was. However both police and local council say they can’t clearly say. Signage is mixed and there’s no legal records. It sounds just that- unclear

Show quote history

I find it shocking that in light of this case that the council hasn't made the decision to make it clear whether or not that pavement can be used by cyclists or not.

A 2.5m wide pavement is wide enough for both women and I can imagine that the hearing impaired woman might not have been able to hear AG over the traffic.

AG admits making contact so manslaughter sounds right to me but as always, it's the sentencing that has me confused.

Talia99 · 26/03/2023 20:21

MarshaBradyo · 26/03/2023 19:51

I assume the Appeal has a jury, haven’t looked. They’ll have to find people not too influenced by media and with preconceived ideas of guilty or not.

Looking at this thread many decide already without court and evidence

Appeals don’t have juries. One Judge will look at the case to see if there are arguable grounds (the ‘Single Judge’). If he / she thinks there are, the case will be looked at by 3 (usually) or 5 Judges.

If this is just a sentence appeal, if it gets that far, the 3 or 5 Judges will decide the sentence. If it’s a conviction appeal and the conviction is quashed, any retrial (there doesn’t have to be one) will happen in the Crown Court.

holachicas · 26/03/2023 20:21

In all honestly, a person without disabilities could have done what AG did and I wouldn’t think they should get a prison sentence. It was a horrible accident, sadly, they happen.

AlwaysGinPlease · 26/03/2023 20:22

holachicas · 26/03/2023 20:12

@AlwaysGinPlease
the video ends as the cyclist falls into the road. AG is some distance from her the entire time…

🙄 Well you very clearly haven't watched the video because she was right next to her.

EarringsandLipstick · 26/03/2023 20:22

GrasstrackGirl · 26/03/2023 20:19

At the end of the day AG's defenders need to make up their minds.

If they believe that she is so vulnerable then she needs to be placed in a residential home upon her release.

If she doesn't need a residential home because she's not vulnerable then why doesn't she deserve to be in prison?

Yes of course she requires residential care.

SunshineGeorgie · 26/03/2023 20:22

Prisons are full of people with disabilities

There's no preferential treatment. Autism/adhd/learning difficulties

Fluffodils · 26/03/2023 20:22

GruffaIo · 26/03/2023 19:46

Given some misinformation in this thread, no doubt as a result of the one-sided Mail article, I would encourage those who think the conviction and sentencing wrong to read the sentencing remarks:

Really useful

XanaduKira · 26/03/2023 20:22

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.

I agree - it's despicable how she's been treated and to be sent to jail is pretty unbelievable.

FannyPhart · 26/03/2023 20:22

What article? I saw the video of the police interview where she played dumb deliberately avoided answering the questions and came over looking like someone who knew exactly what she was doing.

pettysquabbles · 26/03/2023 20:23

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?

Why have you brought this up again?

EarringsandLipstick · 26/03/2023 20:23

SunshineGeorgie · 26/03/2023 20:22

Prisons are full of people with disabilities

There's no preferential treatment. Autism/adhd/learning difficulties

Well, I'm in Ireland so will base it on my knowledge here but absolutely someone's cognitive ability is taken into account at sentencing.

SunshineGeorgie · 26/03/2023 20:24

It wasn't a 'horrible accident'.... it was driven by aggression!

GrasstrackGirl · 26/03/2023 20:24

Snorlaxing · 26/03/2023 20:21

I find it shocking that in light of this case that the council hasn't made the decision to make it clear whether or not that pavement can be used by cyclists or not.

A 2.5m wide pavement is wide enough for both women and I can imagine that the hearing impaired woman might not have been able to hear AG over the traffic.

AG admits making contact so manslaughter sounds right to me but as always, it's the sentencing that has me confused.

Show quote history

Cambridgeshire County Council have erected more signs in recent months.

EarringsandLipstick · 26/03/2023 20:24

FannyPhart · 26/03/2023 20:22

What article? I saw the video of the police interview where she played dumb deliberately avoided answering the questions and came over looking like someone who knew exactly what she was doing.

This article:

Branded ‘the pavement killer’, our Auriol should not be in jail for cyclist death

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/4d1eb570-cb22-11ed-9386-0ff7738b71b1?shareToken=4d1209418608505eda48af4cc94a9c0c

SunshineGeorgie · 26/03/2023 20:25

@EarringsandLipstick yes and they are still put in prisons ...

EnjoyingTheSilence · 26/03/2023 20:27

Those that have seen the full video have said that it shows very clearly what happened and of the public saw it, they would agree with the sentence.

clairelouwho · 26/03/2023 20:27

missmollygreen · 26/03/2023 19:14

If the cyclist had been a child, would you all be saying the same?

The fact is she committed manslaughter.

This.

It's a horrible situation all around and I can understand the sympathy for her as I don't believe she intended what happened at all. That is why it is manslaughter and not murder.

The fact is, her actions caused the cyclist to go into the road and get knocked over by the car. I don't question or doubt that she has conditions that make her vulnerable-but the question is, how much did they really impact her actions and behaviour on the day that led to the cyclist's death?

We can't just allow someone to walk away, scot-free just because they have conditions that make them vulnerable. Especially if those conditions have been found to have had little to no bearing on what actually took place.

holachicas · 26/03/2023 20:27

@SunshineGeorgie
but the aggression wasn’t aimed with the intent to kill or even harm the cyclist. She was pissed off because neither party was giving way on a narrow pavement and she wanted to pass.

Should AG have moved into the road?

What should have happened?

Lizzt2007 · 26/03/2023 20:27

TheJanitor · 26/03/2023 19:10

I do admit i struggle to see how she could be guilty. She's disabled in more than one way and she's walking on a narrow pavement when a cyclist comes the other way straight towards her. It didn't appear there was room for both, so the pedestrian would have had priority as the more vulnerable road user. The cyclist was described as a proficient cyclist - so what the fuck was she doing on the pavement? She should have been prepared to stop and let the pedestrian go past safely but looks like they were on a direct collision course, the cyclist should have been traveling at a speed she was able to stop without wobbling into the road. It's not as straightforward as a completely able bodied person knocking someone off their bike.

The pavement was reported as being 2.4 metres wide. That's more than enough space and is in no way a narrow pavement.

Fluffodils · 26/03/2023 20:28

Also the poor driver. Don't forget the impact there.

EarringsandLipstick · 26/03/2023 20:29

SunshineGeorgie · 26/03/2023 20:25

@EarringsandLipstick yes and they are still put in prisons ...

No, not necessarily, that was my point. They may be found guilty of a crime and given a non-custodial sentence.

Zipettydooda · 26/03/2023 20:29

@Redebs
Bikes don't belong on pavements.

They do if the pavement is the cycle route.
However, even if it wasn’t the cycle route, Grey acted aggressively, which is never acceptable, and her actions resulted in someone’s untimely death. She has to take responsibility for that.
Shes complaining that she’ll be bullied in jail. Well isn’t that what her behaviour amounted to ?

Lizzt2007 · 26/03/2023 20:29

feellikeanalien · 26/03/2023 19:26

There was an interview with her brother in law in the Times today. After reading that I am actually quite disturbed by the judge's remarks about her condition having no impact on the case. I will try to link it but am not sure if it will work because the Times is usually behind a paywall.
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/known-as-the-pavement-killer-our-auriol-should-not-be-in-jail-for-cyclist-death-tgwgvzjxv

With all due respect a family member is hardly impartial, whereas the courts and sentencing reports should have been.

Snorlaxing · 26/03/2023 20:30

GrasstrackGirl · 26/03/2023 20:24

Cambridgeshire County Council have erected more signs in recent months.

Show quote history

Thanks for that info. Is it for both pedestrians and cyclists?

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