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| Version 13 | Version 14 |
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| Death cyclist fine angers family | Death cyclist fine angers family |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The family of a 17-year-old girl who died after being hit by a cyclist has described the sentence of a fine for the man who hit her as "laughable". | The family of a 17-year-old girl who died after being hit by a cyclist has described the sentence of a fine for the man who hit her as "laughable". |
| Father Mick Bennett said Jason Howard should have faced manslaughter charges and been jailed for several years over Rhiannon Bennett's death in April 2007. | Father Mick Bennett said Jason Howard should have faced manslaughter charges and been jailed for several years over Rhiannon Bennett's death in April 2007. |
| Howard, 36, of Buckingham, was fined £2,200 on Tuesday after being convicted of dangerous cycling in the town. | Howard, 36, of Buckingham, was fined £2,200 on Tuesday after being convicted of dangerous cycling in the town. |
| The Crown Prosecution Service said the charge was the most appropriate one. | The Crown Prosecution Service said the charge was the most appropriate one. |
| During Howard's trial, Aylesbury magistrates heard Howard had shouted at Rhiannon to "move because I'm not stopping" before crashing into her. | During Howard's trial, Aylesbury magistrates heard Howard had shouted at Rhiannon to "move because I'm not stopping" before crashing into her. |
| Diana Bennett calls for a change in the law | Diana Bennett calls for a change in the law |
| Rhiannon died six days after hitting her head on the pavement as a result of the collision in Verney Close, Buckingham. | Rhiannon died six days after hitting her head on the pavement as a result of the collision in Verney Close, Buckingham. |
| Following the verdict, Mr Bennett said: "It's laughable - when we first heard about this we thought it would be manslaughter, or perhaps even murder, but this is Britain. | Following the verdict, Mr Bennett said: "It's laughable - when we first heard about this we thought it would be manslaughter, or perhaps even murder, but this is Britain. |
| "He is an arrogant, vile little man." | "He is an arrogant, vile little man." |
| Rhiannon's mother, Diana, said: "Words cannot express how broken-hearted we are as a family. | Rhiannon's mother, Diana, said: "Words cannot express how broken-hearted we are as a family. |
| "My daughter ended up dying for him having a bike ride." | "My daughter ended up dying for him having a bike ride." |
| Mrs Bennett told BBC Five Live that the law had let them down. | Mrs Bennett told BBC Five Live that the law had let them down. |
| She said: "He shouted a warning. There's no need to shout a warning. He's on his bicycle, he should have veered round them but even on impact with Rhiannon, he didn't even brake. | She said: "He shouted a warning. There's no need to shout a warning. He's on his bicycle, he should have veered round them but even on impact with Rhiannon, he didn't even brake. |
| "He was on the footpath, where she should have been safe." It was decided that the charge of dangerous cycling was the appropriate charge Crown Prosecution Service Cyclists 'don't obey road laws' | "He was on the footpath, where she should have been safe." It was decided that the charge of dangerous cycling was the appropriate charge Crown Prosecution Service Cyclists 'don't obey road laws' |
| A CPS spokesperson said: "A file of evidence from the police was reviewed by a senior CPS prosecutor and, based on that evidence, it was decided the charge of dangerous cycling was the most appropriate. | A CPS spokesperson said: "A file of evidence from the police was reviewed by a senior CPS prosecutor and, based on that evidence, it was decided the charge of dangerous cycling was the most appropriate. |
| "Each case is kept under continuous review and following correspondence with Rhiannon's family, the case was looked at before and after the inquest into Rhiannon's death, which returned a verdict of accidental death. | "Each case is kept under continuous review and following correspondence with Rhiannon's family, the case was looked at before and after the inquest into Rhiannon's death, which returned a verdict of accidental death. |
| "It was decided that the charge of dangerous cycling was the appropriate charge and there was insufficient evidence for more serious charges, such as manslaughter, to be pursued." | "It was decided that the charge of dangerous cycling was the appropriate charge and there was insufficient evidence for more serious charges, such as manslaughter, to be pursued." |
| The court heard Howard could have swerved and avoided the collision | |
| Sgt Dominic Mahon, of Thames Valley Police, told the BBC Howard could have been travelling at about 17mph (27km/h) when he struck Rhiannon, "imparting a great deal of force" on her. | Sgt Dominic Mahon, of Thames Valley Police, told the BBC Howard could have been travelling at about 17mph (27km/h) when he struck Rhiannon, "imparting a great deal of force" on her. |
| On Monday, the court heard Howard could have swerved to the right of the group and avoided the collision. | On Monday, the court heard Howard could have swerved to the right of the group and avoided the collision. |
| But Sgt Mahon said he stayed on a "straight course" towards the group because he had thought he could get through a gap he saw between Rhiannon and her friends. | But Sgt Mahon said he stayed on a "straight course" towards the group because he had thought he could get through a gap he saw between Rhiannon and her friends. |
| However, it seems Rhiannon moved in to the gap at the last second and was struck by the bike. | However, it seems Rhiannon moved in to the gap at the last second and was struck by the bike. |
| It was unclear in court as to whether she was still in the road or on the pavement when the collision happened. | It was unclear in court as to whether she was still in the road or on the pavement when the collision happened. |
| "We think Rhiannon was probably a few inches, or a foot, into the road and then she moved towards the pavement," said Sgt Mahon. | "We think Rhiannon was probably a few inches, or a foot, into the road and then she moved towards the pavement," said Sgt Mahon. |