What kind of sick society do we live in that states to a bereaving family that if their daughter had been killed by the reckless driver of a car the maximum sentence would have been 14 years but because their daughter was killed by the rider of a cycle, the maximum penalty is a £2,500?
In April 2007, 36-year-old Jason Howard was convicted of dangerous cycling in Buckingham. He was cycling on the pavement in a quiet cul-de-sac towards a group of young girls when he apparently shouted a warning for them to move out of the way because he was not stopping.
Rhiannon Bennett didn’t move out of the way and Howard collided with her. She died six days later after hitting her head on the pavement as a result of the crash. Yesterday he was fined £2,200.
Sgt Dominic Mahon, of Thames Valley Police, told the BBC Howard could have been travelling at about 17mph when he struck Rhiannon, “imparting a great deal of force” on her.
So the UK law on manslaughter suggests that if Rhiannon Bennett had been hit by a car while she was attempting to cross the road, and the driver was convicted of dangerous driving, the maximum penalty would be 14 years in prison and almost certainly a driving ban. But for a adult to mo down an innocent pedestrian while walking on the path, a cyclist will receive no more than a £2,500 fine, and of course no cycling license to lose!
Not only is this law nonsensical, it is disgusting & disgraceful for anyone to believe an innocent life is worth a mere £2,500, let alone the £2,200 awarded to Rhiannon’s family.
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