This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-50856899
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Man tracked 'cowardly' driver after Leicester fatal crash | Man tracked 'cowardly' driver after Leicester fatal crash |
(about 20 hours later) | |
A man followed a drink-driver and flagged down a police car after the man "cowardly" fled a fatal crash scene. | |
Edgars Grisulis was jailed for nine years and nine months after killing Annette Booth when his car reversed into her at the Leicester bus stop. | Edgars Grisulis was jailed for nine years and nine months after killing Annette Booth when his car reversed into her at the Leicester bus stop. |
On Wednesday, Leicester Crown Court heard how Ahmad Karwan followed the killer driver and flagged a police car. | On Wednesday, Leicester Crown Court heard how Ahmad Karwan followed the killer driver and flagged a police car. |
Judge Martin Hurst said Grisulis, 27, had torn Mrs Booth's family apart with his "selfish and cowardly act". | |
Grisulis, a Latvian national, pleaded guilty to death by dangerous driving when he hit the 57-year-old on 29 September 2018. | Grisulis, a Latvian national, pleaded guilty to death by dangerous driving when he hit the 57-year-old on 29 September 2018. |
The court heard how the father-of-one, of Saxby Street, Leicester, had borrowed his partner's Mercedes GLX after drinking. | The court heard how the father-of-one, of Saxby Street, Leicester, had borrowed his partner's Mercedes GLX after drinking. |
'Coward's way out' | 'Coward's way out' |
Blood taken from the inside of the car showed Grisulis had 144mg of alcohol in his bloodstream, the legal limit is 80mg. | Blood taken from the inside of the car showed Grisulis had 144mg of alcohol in his bloodstream, the legal limit is 80mg. |
As he drove towards the city centre on the A50 in Woodgate at a "terrifyingly high speed", his car "collided with the rear of a Nissan vehicle", driven by Mr Karwan. | As he drove towards the city centre on the A50 in Woodgate at a "terrifyingly high speed", his car "collided with the rear of a Nissan vehicle", driven by Mr Karwan. |
Prosecutor Alex Wolfson said Mr Karwan knew Grisulis was going too fast, and was "bracing himself for the inevitable collision". | Prosecutor Alex Wolfson said Mr Karwan knew Grisulis was going too fast, and was "bracing himself for the inevitable collision". |
He got out of his car to confront Grisulis, but Grisulis "selected reverse gear" and began "swerving" across the carriageway. | He got out of his car to confront Grisulis, but Grisulis "selected reverse gear" and began "swerving" across the carriageway. |
He eventually hit Mrs Booth at the bus stop. | He eventually hit Mrs Booth at the bus stop. |
Mrs Booth's husband Stephen, who was with her at the bus stop, said: "All I can remember is the noise and the sound, and the carnage. | Mrs Booth's husband Stephen, who was with her at the bus stop, said: "All I can remember is the noise and the sound, and the carnage. |
"At first I didn't realise that Annette had been hit, and the car sped off." | "At first I didn't realise that Annette had been hit, and the car sped off." |
Mrs Booth, who had been due to become a grandmother the following month, later died at Nottingham Queen's Medical Centre. | Mrs Booth, who had been due to become a grandmother the following month, later died at Nottingham Queen's Medical Centre. |
Mr Wolfson said the Nissan driver "followed the defendant" and saw him abandon his car, with an unidentified passenger, under the archway of Grand Central Street. | Mr Wolfson said the Nissan driver "followed the defendant" and saw him abandon his car, with an unidentified passenger, under the archway of Grand Central Street. |
Judge Hurst said: "You took the coward's way out, you threw your car into reverse and hurtled backwards a distance of 105m." | Judge Hurst said: "You took the coward's way out, you threw your car into reverse and hurtled backwards a distance of 105m." |
The judge said he was "weaving" along the carriageway "completely out of control", and he "mounted the pavement and collided at that spot with Annette Booth." | The judge said he was "weaving" along the carriageway "completely out of control", and he "mounted the pavement and collided at that spot with Annette Booth." |
As part of their victim statements, a statement was read out by Mrs Booth's brother Michael Skeete. | As part of their victim statements, a statement was read out by Mrs Booth's brother Michael Skeete. |
It said: "I have watched my mum's health deteriorate, no mother should have to bury their child." | It said: "I have watched my mum's health deteriorate, no mother should have to bury their child." |
Her son Luke Skeete said: "My mum, my inspiration, my best friend, gone. Just like that without warning." | Her son Luke Skeete said: "My mum, my inspiration, my best friend, gone. Just like that without warning." |
Her husband Stephen said: "The real truth is a massive part of me died with her that night. | Her husband Stephen said: "The real truth is a massive part of me died with her that night. |
"The only thing that keeps me going is our two sons and, of course, our new granddaughter." | "The only thing that keeps me going is our two sons and, of course, our new granddaughter." |
Commenting on the sentence outside of court, Mr Booth said: "I feel like we've been served more of an injustice than justice as a family. | Commenting on the sentence outside of court, Mr Booth said: "I feel like we've been served more of an injustice than justice as a family. |
"He's 27 years old, once he turns 33 it's all going to be done and dusted, whereas we're living that life sentence." | "He's 27 years old, once he turns 33 it's all going to be done and dusted, whereas we're living that life sentence." |
Grisulis, who had previous driving convictions and did not have a British licence at the time of the incident, was also banned from driving for 14 years and 10 months. | Grisulis, who had previous driving convictions and did not have a British licence at the time of the incident, was also banned from driving for 14 years and 10 months. |
In sentencing, Judge Hurst said Grisulis had a "cavalier disregard of the laws of this land and the appropriate way to drive". | In sentencing, Judge Hurst said Grisulis had a "cavalier disregard of the laws of this land and the appropriate way to drive". |
"This family has been torn apart by your selfish and cowardly act," he said. | |
"You will be released from your sentence, they will continue to serve the life sentence you imposed on them." | "You will be released from your sentence, they will continue to serve the life sentence you imposed on them." |
Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk. | Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk. |
Previous version
1
Next version