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| Mother jailed for drug car deaths | Mother jailed for drug car deaths |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A mother who was high on drugs when she killed her two young daughters and two teenagers in a head-on car crash has been jailed for nine years. | A mother who was high on drugs when she killed her two young daughters and two teenagers in a head-on car crash has been jailed for nine years. |
| Kalli Goyette, four, and her sister Karis, eight, died when their mother Davina Smith from Tilbury, Essex, lost control of a stolen car in 2005. | Kalli Goyette, four, and her sister Karis, eight, died when their mother Davina Smith from Tilbury, Essex, lost control of a stolen car in 2005. |
| Kezia Adger and Lee Gray, both 16, who were in the same car, also died. | Kezia Adger and Lee Gray, both 16, who were in the same car, also died. |
| Smith, 31, was convicted of four counts of causing death by careless driving at Snaresbrook Crown Court last December. | Smith, 31, was convicted of four counts of causing death by careless driving at Snaresbrook Crown Court last December. |
| During the trial jurors heard how she had initially claimed Lee Gray was at the wheel of the stolen Ford Fiesta when it was involved in the crash in St Chad's Road, Tilbury. | During the trial jurors heard how she had initially claimed Lee Gray was at the wheel of the stolen Ford Fiesta when it was involved in the crash in St Chad's Road, Tilbury. |
| Smith later accepted she had been driving. In court she exercised her right not to give evidence. | Smith later accepted she had been driving. In court she exercised her right not to give evidence. |
| Davina Smith unlawfully took four young lives, including those of her own children, by her criminal driving actions Chief Inspector Tom Diment Lying to save her skin | Davina Smith unlawfully took four young lives, including those of her own children, by her criminal driving actions Chief Inspector Tom Diment Lying to save her skin |
| The Fiesta had been stolen in Westcliff-on-Sea the day before the accident. | The Fiesta had been stolen in Westcliff-on-Sea the day before the accident. |
| The jury heard Smith had had a series of late nights prior to the crash and subsequent hospital tests found traces of amphetamines and cannabis in her body. | The jury heard Smith had had a series of late nights prior to the crash and subsequent hospital tests found traces of amphetamines and cannabis in her body. |
| Martyn Levett, prosecuting, said the defendant's claims left officers facing an investigative "brick wall" and forced them to carry out a "painstaking" investigation in an attempt to find out what had happened. | Martyn Levett, prosecuting, said the defendant's claims left officers facing an investigative "brick wall" and forced them to carry out a "painstaking" investigation in an attempt to find out what had happened. |
| Police discovered the Fiesta had been travelling between 40mph and 50mph when the accident happened. | Police discovered the Fiesta had been travelling between 40mph and 50mph when the accident happened. |
| Following the sentencing Ch Insp Tom Diment said: "Essex Police offer their deepest sympathies to all the families who have been bereaved by this sad and tragic incident. | Following the sentencing Ch Insp Tom Diment said: "Essex Police offer their deepest sympathies to all the families who have been bereaved by this sad and tragic incident. |
| "Lee, Kezia, Karis and Kalli are undoubtedly sadly missed by their families and loved ones. I hope today's verdicts will bring some closure for the families. | "Lee, Kezia, Karis and Kalli are undoubtedly sadly missed by their families and loved ones. I hope today's verdicts will bring some closure for the families. |
| "Davina Smith unlawfully took four young lives, including those of her own children, by her criminal driving actions. | "Davina Smith unlawfully took four young lives, including those of her own children, by her criminal driving actions. |
| "Her situation must be a lesson to any other person who drives a motor vehicle, stolen or otherwise, whilst under the influence of intoxicants." | "Her situation must be a lesson to any other person who drives a motor vehicle, stolen or otherwise, whilst under the influence of intoxicants." |