"I can't help it if a cyclist falls over"

[glenn forger]

Oh, thanks, Mr Fielding seems to be some sort of specialist, he boasts about other motoring offences cases he's handled, Dr Measures was lucky there.

 

[PK99]

That's what Dr Measures said in testimony. I can't cycle at right angles, but I can topple sideways from my bike...

The road in question appears to be the B480 and the collision took place near Stonor (other national papers list an A road, but I'd take the local paper's word). The lanes are narrow around Stonor - have a look on Street View. It looks pretty flat to me...

Have you ever clipped the wheel of the bike in front? I have, bringing down the whole club ride in the process. I pretty much went at right angles* across the group taking out the guy to my right. Fortunately, there were no cars in either direction, but it was very quick and totally uncontrolled.

*Wrt the ground, it was at an angle, wrt the group it was pretty much a right angle, a following driver would have seen it as a right angle.

 

[Origamist]

Interesting anecdote, but irrelevant.

 

[jarlrmai]

Would this case have gone down differently if it had been recorded by a helmet camera worn by either of the riders? It seems that when people describe events there's enough wiggle room for the lawyers to create doubt

 

[Jezston]

Anyone actually know the legal thing on such matters - I understand a sentence can be appealed by the public if they feel it was too lenient, and a guilty verdict can always be appealed, but can an innocent verdict be appealed? Can't seem to find any info online.

 

[benb]

AFAIK you can't appeal an innocent verdict unless new evidence comes to light, triggering a new trial.

 

[Bromptonaut]

An NG verdict by a jury cannot be appealed, at least not in any way that will lead to a different outcome.

IIRC there may be circs in which cases can be referrred to a more senior court on a point of law - eg misdirection by Judge - but there's no re-trial because of double jeopardy. Only new evidence, as in Stephen Lawrence, and then only exceptionally will hearing be re-staged.

 

[Jezston]

Thought that might be the case.
Can the victim's boyfriend potentially then initiate a civil trial against the driver?

 

[MattyKo]

Strange !! how it is considered acceptable for a driver to overtake cyclists at 40 to 50 mph.

Had it been someone on horse back the acceptable thing to do would be; radically reduce speed in order not to spook the horse, and therefore ensure the rider is able to retain control of the horse.

However, once the other animals are removed from the equation it appears to be everyone for themselves.

Unfortunate that this just is another addition to the 2013 count for road fatalities, from another Collision !! (Collisions not Accidents).

The question of justice and the outcome from the judicial process, reaches as far back as the legislation enacted by Parliament, and the "executive" permitted to administer / prepare files ? ! ?

Nevertheless Sorry to Hear that a further individual powering themselves upon a cycle suffered.

 

[Lockring]

I think I agree but my english is not better. but to pass horse and to pass bicycle is not one thing the same to each other. to pass a horse you must slow becuase he (she) (it) do not understand the traffic and can go crazy. A person onbicycle do understand traffic and you must not have to slow so much. but the story here is about a lady who pass too fast for horse and too fast for bicycle and too fast to not be dangrose. she is wrong, but a story about pass a horse is not need here. the lady on a bicycle has no shance when a driver do this. not guilty is not good.

 

[jarlrmai]

http://www.henleystandard.co.uk/news/news.php?id=1363185

 

[hopless500]

http://www.henleystandard.co.uk/news/news.php?id=1363185

That is so sad. Is there really no recourse for the family and no possibility of retrial or overturning the given verdict?
I know the reporting of the event has been less than factual in some instances, but this just seems even more of a complete travesty when you read their side of it.

 

[mr_cellophane]

our daughter was an experienced and competent cyclist, having cycled since a very early age

That's a new bit that I haven't read before. I thought the whole thurst of the defence and reporting was that she had just got the bike a couple of days before. Implying that she was new to cycling.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

A deeply touching letter and a deeply frustrating lack of (what I call) justice.

 

[jarlrmai]

That's a new bit that I haven't read before. I thought the whole thurst of the defence and reporting was that she had just got the bike a couple of days before. Implying that she was new to cycling.

I thought that as well.