Horse killed in Bridgwater June 2011

I remember reading about this in our local paper and it brought tears to my eyes thinking of what the owner of the pony must have gone through. It is terrible that this man may be getting off so lightly, when he obviously can't control his temper enough to refrain from deliberately using his car as a potentially lethal weapon. I wish you success with your efforts to see proper justice done and I'm so sorry for the loss of your pony. x
 
mollymum said:
My sentiments entirely. Thanks everyone. I won't mention the driver's name yet, in case we are able to appeal. His trial was cancelled and the hearing took place behind closed doors, we were informed yesterday.
His 'punishment'? Dangerous driving downgraded to 'careless' driving, a £300 fine and 6 penalty points. An insult to the pony's memory.
Click to expand...

I think you need to speak to the police (and maybe the CPS) to find out why he was charged with a vehicular road traffic crime when his actions could possibly have been construed as anything from attempted murder to ABH with intent where the car was used as a weapon rather than it being a 'random road accident'...

I'm not sure what you mean by a trial (magistrates or crown?) being cancelled and a closed hearing (judge only trial or public removal?) Is the sentence a matter of public record now?

I think you really do need some appropriate professional advice regarding any sentencing review, whether the CPS will consider an appeal and whether you can bring a private prosecution... The latter being plausible as guilt (of cause if not the crime you agreed with) has already been determined...

I would guess that if he's been prosecuted for a driving offence it would now be pretty impossible to retry on alternate grounds without new evidence - but I would certainly want to know *why* he was charged with a road traffic offence if the police believed intent to cause harm at the time...

mollymum said:
That's the strange thing - his insurers admitted liability and are paying out everything we asked for. That seems like an admission of guilt to me, so I can't understand the stupid punishment.......
Click to expand...

Totally separate really... It's what the insurance is for... My insurance would pay out if I shunted another car up the backside - whether it was a genuine accident or the result of an offence on my behalf...

Apologies if this sounds a bit detached... I would be hopping mad in your situation and I do feel terribly sorry for you all in this sort of mess... You will be best helped though with someone who can look objectively at the legal aspects of the whole process so far...
 
We had a person of standing in our village 'drive at' a ridden horse - he stopped 2 inches away from it and that was only luck. There were witnesses luckily and it is finally going to court. I won't go into the cicumstances as it hasn't been heard yet.
The thing that disgusted me is that the police asked the rider if she would be willing to drop the case and accept an apology!!! This is 6 months on and he had only just been interviewed - who says there is no corruption rife in the police today.
 
The older I get, the more confused I am regarding right and wrong. As I said in my letter to the crown court, british law seems to be on the side of the perpetrater, whilst poking fun at the victim.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top