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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Death cyclist fine angers family | Death cyclist fine angers family |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The father of a 17-year-old girl who died after being hit by a cyclist has said it is "laughable" that the man has only been fined. | The father of a 17-year-old girl who died after being hit by a cyclist has said it is "laughable" that the man has only been fined. |
| Mick Bennett said Jason Howard should have faced manslaughter charges and been jailed for several years over Rhiannon Bennett's death in April 2007. | 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. | |
| 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. |
| My daughter ended up dying for him having a bike ride Diana Bennett | My daughter ended up dying for him having a bike ride Diana Bennett |
| 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." |
| It was decided that the charge of dangerous cycling was the appropriate charge Crown Prosecution Service | It was decided that the charge of dangerous cycling was the appropriate charge Crown Prosecution Service |
| 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." |
| Law change | Law change |
| 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. |