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| Death cyclist fine angers family | Death cyclist fine angers family |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The family of a 17-year-old girl who died after being hit by a cyclist has described the £2,200 fine handed to 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 £2,200 fine handed to 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. | |
| Howard, 36, of Buckingham, was fined 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 he had shouted at Rhiannon to "move because I'm not stopping" before crashing into her. | During Howard's trial, Aylesbury magistrates heard he 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." | "He was on the footpath, where she should have been safe." |
| 'Tragic accident' | 'Tragic accident' |
| 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. |
| The court heard Howard could have swerved and avoided the collision Cyclists 'don't obey road laws' | The court heard Howard could have swerved and avoided the collision Cyclists 'don't obey road laws' |
| "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." |
| 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. |
| Chris Thompson, Howard's solicitor, said: "It was a tragic accident that he will regret for the rest of his days. Jason understands how Rhiannon's family must be feeling at the moment." | Chris Thompson, Howard's solicitor, said: "It was a tragic accident that he will regret for the rest of his days. Jason understands how Rhiannon's family must be feeling at the moment." |
| Mr Thompson said he had advised Howard not to speak publicly on the matter until after civil proceedings had concluded. | Mr Thompson said he had advised Howard not to speak publicly on the matter until after civil proceedings had concluded. |
| "The family have said they intend to seek damages so we have to assume that a civil claim will follow," he said. | "The family have said they intend to seek damages so we have to assume that a civil claim will follow," he said. |
| Mr Thompson said his client found comments made after the case by Rhiannon's father, Mick Bennett, "very upsetting". | Mr Thompson said his client found comments made after the case by Rhiannon's father, Mick Bennett, "very upsetting". |