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Bristol car-drag death driver Shakrul Islam jailed | Bristol car-drag death driver Shakrul Islam jailed |
(about 3 hours later) | |
A man who killed his friend by dragging him under a car after a botched attempt to steal fuel, has been jailed. | A man who killed his friend by dragging him under a car after a botched attempt to steal fuel, has been jailed. |
Shakrul Islam, 31, had already used the car as a weapon to scare petrol station staff, a jury was told. | Shakrul Islam, 31, had already used the car as a weapon to scare petrol station staff, a jury was told. |
Kyle Clarke, 27, died when he was dragged for half a mile under the car in Bristol in January. | Kyle Clarke, 27, died when he was dragged for half a mile under the car in Bristol in January. |
Islam, of South Gloucestershire, who had denied the charge, was convicted of manslaughter, at the city's crown court and sentenced to seven years. | |
Sentencing the unlicensed driver of Chipping Sodbury, Judge Peter Blair QC said Mr Clarke's death had had "an earth-shattering effect" on his family. | |
"They were planning on emigrating to Australia and had that day made a final payment for visas," he said. | "They were planning on emigrating to Australia and had that day made a final payment for visas," he said. |
Car was lifted | Car was lifted |
Islam had previously admitted causing death by dangerous driving. | Islam had previously admitted causing death by dangerous driving. |
Mr Clarke's death followed an altercation with garage employee Abu Sayem, who thought they were going to try and drive off without paying for petrol, the court heard. | |
Mr Clarke was pulled from the car by Mr Sayem, but Islam drove the car at them, knocking Mr Clarke over and trapping him under the car as he drove off. | |
The vehicle finally came to a halt at traffic lights when members of the public lifted the car up and tried to save Mr Clarke's life. | |
A post-mortem examination found Mr Clarke had suffered 48 rib fractures, fractures to his breast bone and collarbone and collapsed lungs. | A post-mortem examination found Mr Clarke had suffered 48 rib fractures, fractures to his breast bone and collarbone and collapsed lungs. |
Speaking after the sentencing, Det Supt Sarah Davenport said Islam drove away from the garage "travelling a considerable distance with Kyle trapped under the car". | Speaking after the sentencing, Det Supt Sarah Davenport said Islam drove away from the garage "travelling a considerable distance with Kyle trapped under the car". |
"When he finally stopped, Kyle had already suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene," she said. | |
"Our thoughts remain with Kyle's family and friends." | |
'Heart of gold' | |
His mother Helen Stockford, said he had been the "soul of the family" and his death was "devastating" for his brothers and sisters. | |
"He was a good kid - heart of gold. Even in his hardest moments he still managed to find a smile and have a laugh and a joke," she said. | |
Referring to the move to Australia, Mrs Stockford said her son was "so looking forward to going". | |
"It just seems so sad because on the verge of us emigrating, it has now come to this," she said. | |
"We are extremely upset that Kyle isn't with us today. My heart also stands with Mr Islam who has been convicted, because I think he didn't deliberately set out to kill my son." | |
Mrs Stockford said she and her family did not agree with the conviction and would help Islam with an appeal against if he planned to. |
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