Jail for toddler death L-driver

[sayerbloke]

A learner driver whose car killed a two-year-old boy when it crashed onto a beach has been jailed for eight years.

A couple of thoughts;

- I suspect he wasn't insured on that car, given that he was a learner [even one aged 46].

- The description of what happened doesn't really ring true somehow.

But most strikingly:

- The punishment handed out for that list of crimes almost certainly isn't harsh enough... but some people these days are given a hell of a lot less for pre-meditated murder when this was, essentially, an unfortunate accident. Another marvellous case of our justice system needing it`s priorities re-balancing?

[saab]

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- I suspect he wasn't insured on that car, given that he was a learner [even one aged 46].

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I would agree as it sounds like he was alone in the car and therefore uninsured. Sounds like he had been driving for a long time without having passed a test. Not many new drivers tool about in a 3.5 litre Beemer.

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- The description of what happened doesn't really ring true somehow.

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Perhaps but you hear of quite a few accidents where drivers in automatics have stamped on the wrong pedal, slipping from one pedal to the other maybe not.

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But most strikingly:

- The punishment handed out for that list of crimes almost certainly isn't harsh enough...

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Actually I was thinking that as these sort of cases go it was quite a long sentence. It is all a matter of opinion about whether sentence lengths for particular crimes are too short/long. What would have been more appropriate?

[Sponge]

I realise the only information I have is that provided in the news report, but I also thought the sentance was surprisingly harsh. Like you say, some pre-meditated crimes quite often get more lenient sentancing.

Having said that, I think someone that behaves like he did should be banned from driving for life.

[sayerbloke]

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Actually I was thinking that as these sort of cases go it was quite a long sentence. It is all a matter of opinion about whether sentence lengths for particular crimes are too short/long. What would have been more appropriate?

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Well, he seems to have shown remorse for what was, as I said, a tragic accident. My main point was how can he have been given 8 years when you usually get less for murder. I`d like to see [almost] all sentences increased, but more importantly, I`d like to see the correct sentence handed out relative to other crimes/punishments.

[GCab]

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My main point was how can he have been given 8 years when you usually get less for murder. I`d like to see [almost] all sentences increased, but more importantly, I`d like to see the correct sentence handed out relative to other crimes/punishments.

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Agree entirely

[Snail]

Well, its 8 years for killing a toddler, injuring the toddlers father, driving unsupervised for a period of several months, driving without insurance (id guess), dangerous driving, etc.

To be honest just reading that article, it seems its a catalog of crimes, not just a simple death.

[sayerbloke]

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To be honest just reading that article, it seems its a catalog of crimes, not just a simple death.

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Yes, but in this country, you [generally] only serve the sentence of the longest one. i.e. all sentences run concurrently.

Also, just realised, because he was on his own, even if he did own/insured on the BMW, it would be null & void because he wouldn't be allowed to drive it without a normal driver with him.

[saab]

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Also, just realised, because he was on his own, even if he did own/insured on the BMW, it would be null & void because he wouldn't be allowed to drive it without a normal driver with him.

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Just like I said above.

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My main point was how can he have been given 8 years when you usually get less for murder. I`d like to see [almost] all sentences increased, but more importantly, I`d like to see the correct sentence handed out relative to other crimes/punishments.

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I don't really know too much about actual stats but do people convicted of murder get sentences of less than 8 years? Obviously I'm aware that what they actually serve in prison can often be very much less than their setence.