SHAME SHAME
THREE YEARS’ JAIL FOR ISLE OF MAN CABBIE WHO REVERSED OVER WOMAN AND LEFT HER TO DIE
A taxi driver who left a Douglas woman to die in the street, after reversing into her, has been told his actions were ‘deplorable’. Manx Radio reports that David Evans hit Carolyn Buchan, 73, at 1am on 20 March – minutes after dropping her home. Despite seeing her lying in the road, he drove off and continued working for A1 taxis picking up other fares. The court heard Mrs Buchan’s body was found by a neighbour at 7am the next morning.. At Douglas Courthouse on 21 September, Evans was jailed for three years for causing her death by careless driving. The court heard he’d lied to police
saying he’d helped her out of his taxi and watched her walk towards her house before noting down the fare and driving off. In reality Evans, 66, had reversed into the great- grandmother, crushing her, before leaving her dying in the road and then fleeing the scene. Mrs Buchan, who was described in court as a ‘delightful lady’ suffered ‘catastrophic’ injuries. A path- ologist confirmed she would have died quickly and medical attention was unlikely to have worked. Evans only admitted what he’d done after forensic evidence from his Mercedes Vito found blood and hair, on the underside. He told police he’d checked his
mirrors before reversing but heard a bump and realised he’d hit something. “I just panicked. I had no idea she was seriously hurt”. Evans later admitted causing death by careless driving and failing to stop and report an accident. He also admitted committing an act against public justice by giving police incorrect statements de- signed to mislead the investigation and cast suspicion on others. Sending Evans to prison, Deemster Graeme Cook described his behaviour as ‘incomprehensible’ saying: “You were more interested in self-preservation. Nobody should die that way. That was down to you.”
WELSH CABBIE KNOCKED OVER CYCLIST AFTER HE SLAPPED HIS BONNET AND CALLED HIM A FAT F**K
A taxi driver deliberately knocked a cyclist over in a “moment of madness” after he drove too close to him and the victim slapped his car bonnet. He lost his job as a result of the assault which left the cyclist with minor injuries. A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on 30 August, heard that cyclist Paul Doody was riding when he sensed Martin Godfrey, 57,was driving far too close to him. When they
stopped at traffic
lights, Mr Doody’s elbow touched the wing mirror of Godfrey’s car which the cyclist slapped in order to draw the driver’s attention to how close his car was. But the defendant continued to
drive
alongside Mr Doody’s bike which the victim found “intimidating”.
60
Prosecutor Ieuan Bennett said that the victim slapped Godfrey’s bonnet and they
exchanged
insults with one another. Godfrey said: “Don’t touch my f****** car”, to which Mr Doody replied: “You’re too f****** close, move away”. He was also heard calling Godfrey a “f****** c***” and a “fat f***”. Footage was played of Godfrey pulling to
the right before
swinging left into Mr Doody and sending him over his handlebars and over a wall. As a result, Mr Doody suffered tenderness to his collarbone and shoulder, as well as swelling. The defendant, from Michaelston- super-Ely, denied assaulting the victim but he later pleaded guilty to
assault occasioning actual
bodily harm and dangerous driving. The court heard he had previous convictions for wounding, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and failure to surrender. In mitigation, Kevin Seal said the “mainstay” of his client’s life had been his job as a taxi driver but he has now lost his job. Sentencing, Recorder Carl Harrison said: “This was a deliberate move out of anger to knock a cyclist off his bike. You have a responsibility to other road users, particularly those more vulnerable than you.” Godfrey was sentenced to eight months imprisonment suspended for two years and must carry out rehabilitation activity and 120 hours’ unpaid work. He was disqualified from driving for two years.
OCTOBER 2022 PHTM
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86
