Hit and run on child cyclist in Deptford Church St this afternoon.

[Boris Bajic]

Thats dreadful! I really do think we should bring back hanging!

Condolences to the family and friends. This is a nightmare none of us wants to live.

On hanging: Certainly the incident described in the OP is unacceptable behaviour, but I think capital punishment might be a step too far.

My three children cycle and I shudder to think what might happen to them if one HGV driver sneezes at the wrong time or a drunk driver misjudges a bend - or even if an otherwise highly competent driver makes an out-of-character misjudgement.

Nonetheless, I'm happy I live in a country where capital punishment is not an option.

 

[Ecclefechan]

What's the odds on the driver getting a community service order as a sentence, if it gets that far........?

No Chance, Death By Dangerous driving is the most serious offence under the Road Traffic Act, and to be specific its Section 1 RTA 1988, and one of the most serious offences in the Legislature. It is by law, that a mandatory minimum prison serving of 7 years, but it can be as high as a Life Sentence depending on the nature of the offence, it is also mandatory for a quad figure fine to be issued, as well as a minimum of 2 years mandatory driving disqualification, which again can be as high as a permanent driving ban.

But what ever the odds, he wont get away lightly.

 

[downfader]

No Chance, Death By Dangerous driving is the most serious offence under the Road Traffic Act, and to be specific its Section 1 RTA 1988, and one of the most serious offences in the Legislature. It is by law, that a mandatory minimum prison serving of 7 years, but it can be as high as a Life Sentence depending on the nature of the offence, it is also mandatory for a quad figure fine to be issued, as well as a minimum of 2 years mandatory driving disqualification, which again can be as high as a permanent driving ban.

But what ever the odds, he wont get away lightly.

Looking at other similar cases there is a chance the CPS will lower the charge to Careless. People should brace themselves for such officialdom and be prepared to campaign...

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

Looking at other similar cases there is a chance the CPS will lower the charge to Careless. People should brace themselves for such officialdom and be prepared to campaign...

Having spoken to TJ's uncle at the scene, it seems that it might be unlikely that the offence become degraded. But, as I don't know the ins and outs of sub judice, I'll not give more details.

A request to put some kind of memorial in the Sue Godfrey Nature Park has been put to the TA.

 

[downfader]

Having spoken to TJ's uncle at the scene, it seems that it might be unlikely that the offence become degraded. But, as I don't know the ins and outs of sub judice, I'll not give more details.

A request to put some kind of memorial in the Sue Godfrey Nature Park has been put to the TA.

I really hope so, and good luck for all with the memorial. There are two about a mile from me and I think about them everytime I go past.

 

[Ecclefechan]

Looking at other similar cases there is a chance the CPS will lower the charge to Careless. People should brace themselves for such officialdom and be prepared to campaign...

Well, I actually never took into Consideration about the CPS (Criminal Protection Service ) I was thinking about the Procurator Fiscal here in Scotland, which are not as laid back as the CPS, but he wont get let off lightly , especially for fleeing the scene.

 

[Brains]

I hadn't made that connection, Brains. It brings back memories because, quite by chance, I cycled the same route through Catford just a couple of hours after her death under the wheels of a left-turning lorry. It was only afterwards that I discovered who the cordoned off junction was for. I'll ask the tenants association whether the little park could be used as a place to commemorate our own fallen in a bit more tranquillity than on a dual carriageway.

Good local knowledge there, Brains. Do you know some of the old Deptford guard?

Depends how old!
Sue was the older sister of a very good friend.

 

[Anon 1]

Tj was a lovely boy who many of us grew up with, today we hope justice will be served for him as the man will be appearing in court today.

Just to clarify he was in a stolen car.

May justice be served for our TJ. RIP Angel!

 

[ianrauk]

I notice a ghost bike has been placed at the scene.

And yes... fingers crossed justice will be duly served, but unfortunately these days I can't see that happening.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

I'm just debating whether to go to Woolwich Crown Court because the suspect is in court today. I'm caught between a feeling of local involvement and a more uncomfortable one of morbidity.

 

[sabian92]

Any idea on what he'll get?

A cushy cell, an xBox and a snooker table, I imagine...

 

[gambatte]

I was going to say
"No further reports on here and I can't see anything searching through news on google. I take it if anything actually happened yesterday it was a bit of a non-event?"
But I guess they'll not report anything till they've got the verdict? and it could take a few days

 

[Jezston]

Condolences to the family and friends. This is a nightmare none of us wants to live.

On hanging: Certainly the incident described in the OP is unacceptable behaviour, but I think capital punishment might be a step too far.

My three children cycle and I shudder to think what might happen to them if one HGV driver sneezes at the wrong time or a drunk driver misjudges a bend - or even if an otherwise highly competent driver makes an out-of-character misjudgement.

Nonetheless, I'm happy I live in a country where capital punishment is not an option.

Bit shocked this thread had turned into P&L blaming the 'liberals' for not bringing back hanging as the cause of this accident before the driver had even been caught let alone charged, convicted and sentenced.

But I am happy to hear someone has been arrested. Suggestions the car had been stolen (guessing that was confusion caused by it being abandoned?) worried me that would be the last we heard of it.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

Courts are a nightmare to get information out of! I had to go to Belmarsh, tripped the bleepy-bleep thing on the way in because of my cleats, renavigate the scanner in my socks, had half my tools taken off me just to go 20 metres inside to ask a question.

Anyhow, apparently the suspect, Barry Normah, was only there for a preliminary hearing on 2 October and will return for something called a ''Police and Case Management Hearing'' on 12 December with a trial date set for 11 March 2013. The wheels of justice turn slower than me on a steep hill!

 

[ttcycle]

DM, just read this, I am really sorry to hear. Condolences to the family, truly awful.