We thought it was killing a cyclist or pedestrian that counted for just
slap on the wrist punishment. Apparently not. You have to do it with
a car to get away with it - a motor scooter will not do. Still a
derisory sentence though
Tony
21 April 2005
Scooter rider gets seven months
Last week the rider of a motor-scooter, who was involved in a fatal
collision with a pedal cyclist on Blackfriars Bridge in February 2003,
received 7 months imprisonment for failing to stop at the scene and
failing to report the collision. The pedal cyclist, Kim Thi, aged 61 of
Southwark SE1, died two weeks later from the injuries he sustained in
the collision.
The motor-scooter rider, a 17 year old from Kennington, South London,
had previously been found guilty at Southwark Crown Court, of careless
driving, no insurance, no driving licence and speeding. For these he
received a 2 year driving ban, endorsements on any susequent driving
licence and fined £900. The seven months imprisonment given by the City
of London Magistrates Court, is the maximum sentence available for these
two offences.
The collision between the youth and Mr Thi occurred when both were
travelling northbound on Blackfriars Bridge at about 6 am on Thursday 6
February 2003. Even though the scooter had sustained significant damage
the rider failed to stop, leaving Mr Thi fatally injured. City of London
Police put out appeals for the rider to come forward and he attended the
police station the next day after pressure from his parents.