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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Driver guilty of M6 family deaths | Driver guilty of M6 family deaths |
| (11 minutes later) | |
| A Portuguese lorry driver has been jailed for causing the deaths of a family of six by careless driving. | A Portuguese lorry driver has been jailed for causing the deaths of a family of six by careless driving. |
| David and Michelle Statham and their four children, from Llandudno, north Wales, died when a lorry hit their car as they travelled home from Birmingham. | David and Michelle Statham and their four children, from Llandudno, north Wales, died when a lorry hit their car as they travelled home from Birmingham. |
| Paulo Jorge Nogueira da Silva, 46, had denied causing the deaths by dangerous driving or by careless driving on the M6 in Cheshire last October. | Paulo Jorge Nogueira da Silva, 46, had denied causing the deaths by dangerous driving or by careless driving on the M6 in Cheshire last October. |
| He was jailed for three years by a judge at Chester Crown Court. | He was jailed for three years by a judge at Chester Crown Court. |
| Da Silva was convicted of six counts of causing death by careless driving by a majority verdict of 11-1. He was found not guilty of causing death by dangerous driving. | |
| The Statham family were killed in October in a crash on the M6 | |
| Mr and Mrs Statham, originally from Sutton Coldfield, had made the journey to the Midlands partly to introduce their 10-week baby, Ellouise, to family and friends. | Mr and Mrs Statham, originally from Sutton Coldfield, had made the journey to the Midlands partly to introduce their 10-week baby, Ellouise, to family and friends. |
| They were also travelling with sons Reece, 13, Jay, nine, and Mason, 20 months as they headed home from visiting Mrs Statham's parents. | |
| However, the family died when their silver people carrier burst into flames after it was involved in a five-vehicle pile-up between junctions 16 and 17 on the M6. | However, the family died when their silver people carrier burst into flames after it was involved in a five-vehicle pile-up between junctions 16 and 17 on the M6. |
| Mr Justice Irwin told the court: "This case arose from a terrible tragedy. | |
| "Anyone who has heard the case could not help but have strong, indeed overwhelming, sympathy for the families of those who died, a whole family wiped out." | |
| Sentencing da Silva, the judge said: "I bear in mind the maximum sentence is five years. | |
| "Although six deaths, this was one episode and the prison sentences must be concurrent. | |
| "This was one of the most serious offences of its kind." | |
| Da Silva was told he would serve at least 18 months of his sentence in jail. |