Mother jailed over crash deaths - beeb

[Rob W 0]

Mother jailed over crash deaths

 

A mother who crammed seven boys into her car during a birthday outing before causing a pile-up in which four people died has been jailed for two years.

 

Nurse Angela Dublin, 46, of London Road, Headington, Oxford, pleaded guilty last month to four counts of causing death by dangerous driving. Three of her seven passengers, Josh Bartlett, Liam Hastings, and Marshall Haynes, all 13, were killed last May. Howard Hillsdon, 21, who was in another car, also died on Oxford's A4142.

 

Dublin, a nurse of 25 years, was disqualified from driving for six years.

 

She had been taking a party of her son Anton's friends out to dinner to celebrate his 13th birthday when the tragedy happened on 28 May. Dublin was seen pulling into the fast lane, without indicating, as she approached a silver car in front at about 70mph. It was then that Dublin lost control, the back of the car swerving first left and then right before ploughing across the grassed central reservation.

 

Mr Hillsdon, 21, of Oxford was killed when Dublin's car hit his vehicle and sent it into a spin. As the two cars spun together each collided with another vehicle. A motorcyclist was also knocked off his bike in the chain of events.

 

Judge Mr Justice Crane said that although Dublin was driving within the limit, the judge described her speed in the circumstances as "excessive". He said: "In my view, apart from taking the risk of multiple deaths and injuries, there were aggravating factors in driving when there were serious distractions and in driving at greatly excessive speed in those circumstances."

 

Dublin herself was left fighting for her life in hospital together with her son and his three surviving friends, Aiden Wood, 13, Jake Proper, 13, and Conor Hunt, 12.

On Monday defence barrister Frank Burton told Oxford Crown Court "by her pleas of guilty to the four counts of causing death by dangerous driving, Mrs Dublin unequivocally accepts her responsibility for her fatal error.

 

"She wishes to apologise to the bereaved families and friends of Liam and Josh and Marshall and Howard Hillsdon. She knows that nothing that she can say and nothing that she can do will ease their pain but she expresses her sincere condolences to the various families and friends for their losses. Like the bereaved, her thoughts over the last year have always been with the victims."

 

The court was told that only one of the boys in the car had been wearing a seat belt and at least one, possibly two, had been in the boot of her Citroen Xsara, when Dublin lost control of the car. A witness recalled seeing children joking, laughing and making "childish gestures" through the back window at a set of traffic lights on the Oxford bypass before the accident.

 

Judge Crane said: "I have considered carefully whether I should reduce the sentence and whether, as I am asked to, I can suspend it. In my judgment it would not be appropriate to suspend the sentence."

[Sicklee Sausage Roll 0]

The court was told that only one of the boys in the car had been wearing a seat belt and at least one, possibly two, had been in the boot of her Citroen Xsara, when Dublin lost control of the car. 

118721[/snapback]

 

[Rob W 0]

wasn't the car stolen or sommat as well....................

 

 

a real charv - no doubt

[Renton 22409]

wasn't the car stolen or sommat as well....................

 

 

a real charv - no doubt

119128[/snapback]

 

 

Well there's no mention of that [stolen car] and there is the fact she is a nurse of 25 years standing.

 

Do you think she should face prison time Rob?

[Gemmill 47087]

She should have been put away for longer than two years IMO, the moron.

[Guest alex]

She should have been put away for longer than two years IMO, the moron.

119161[/snapback]

It's gross stupidity on her part rather than any malice but when gross stupidity leads to the (completely avoidable) deaths of several others, including young children, I suppose prison is appropriate. I feel sorry for her as well though, although not as sorry as I feel for the victims and their families, obviously.

[Renton 22409]

She should have been put away for longer than two years IMO, the moron.

119161[/snapback]

It's gross stupidity on her part rather than any malice but when gross stupidity leads to the (completely avoidable) deaths of several others, including young children, I suppose prison is appropriate. I feel sorry for her as well though, although not as sorry as I feel for the victims and their families, obviously.

119171[/snapback]

 

It's an interesting one. Presumably she's unlikely to do it again, so according to Rob's logic, she should avoid prison. Also, if she had been stopped by the police before the accident, what sentence would she have received? Presumably it should be the same.

[Gemmill 47087]

Oh yeah, there was no malice obviously, but I just don't think that a two year sentence is commensurate with the fact that four people have lost their lives. I know it's a hard one though because of the fact that her crime was basically being irresponsible.

[Holden McGroin 6922]

wasn't the car stolen or sommat as well....................

 

 

a real charv - no doubt

119128[/snapback]

 

I thought that was a separate case in which her son was killed in the accident. Her husband was in jail at the time.

[Guest alex]

It's hard to follow Rob's logic at times tbh

[Rob W 0]

Tough one - I doubt she'll do it again but she killed other innocent people through what appears to have been gross recklessness (or stupidity in other words)

 

If she's been drinking people would be asking for 8 -10 years on here no doubt but just because she's stupid..................................

 

I guess they are trying to send a message to others................ God knows if it will do any good

 

If you are willing to believe you can cram 8 people into a Xsara and still be safe I doubt any message will get through

[Renton 22409]

Tough one - I doubt she'll do it again but she killed other innocent people through what appears to have been gross recklessness (or stupidity in other words)

 

If she's been drinking people would be asking for 8 -10 years on here no doubt but just because she's stupid..................................

 

I guess they are trying to send a message to others................  God knows if it will do any good

 

If you are willing to believe you can cram 8 people into a Xsara  and still be safe I doubt any message will get through

119229[/snapback]

 

So do you think she deserves a custodial sentence or not? Yes or no will suffice.

[Rob W 0]

WHAT???????

 

Handringing and fence sitting are my main occupations, man!!!

 

 

But in this case - 3 dead kids who weren't hers plus the poor sod coming the other way = prison

[Renton 22409]

WHAT???????

 

Handringing  and fence sitting are my main occupations, man!!!

 

 

But in this case - 3 dead kids who weren't hers plus the poor sod coming the other way = prison

119334[/snapback]

 

Hmmm. How does that tally with hoaxing police = 3 dead women = slapped wrist?

[adios 717]

Two years means fuck all with what she's probably going through.

[Renton 22409]

Two years  means fuck all with what she's probably going through.

119360[/snapback]

 

If she's got a conscience, you're right. Which makes the sentence pointless really.

[Holden McGroin 6922]

Two years  means fuck all with what she's probably going through.

119360[/snapback]

 

If she's got a conscience, you're right. Which makes the sentence pointless really.

119364[/snapback]

 

Some sort of sentence had to be set though. She has broken the law.

[sweetleftpeg 0]

Difficult one this, the crime is stupidity, rather than anything evil or pre-meditated. However, she's cost the lives of 3 people through this stupidity. She's been a nurse for over 20 years, I've got no doubt this lady will never be able to forgive herself for what she's done. Some would argue living with the fact she killied an innocent young man and two of her childs best friends is enough punishment for her.

[Guest alex]

Two years  means fuck all with what she's probably going through.

119360[/snapback]

I agree with that, which is why I said previously I do have some sympathy for her.

[adios 717]

Some sort of sentence had to be set though. She has broken the law.

119366[/snapback]

 

I don't really want to get into this debate, I think we all know where we stand, but the only reasons I can see for a sentence are 1 - to take revenge for the victims, 2 - to act as a deterrant to others or 3 - stop her repeating the offence. I can see why people want 1, I just don't agree. I think sometimes 2 & 3 work, just not in this case.

[Renton 22409]

Some sort of sentence had to be set though. She has broken the law.

119366[/snapback]

 

I don't really want to get into this debate, I think we all know where we stand, but the only reasons I can see for a sentence are 1 - to take revenge for the victims, 2 - to act as a deterrant to others or 3 - stop her repeating the offence. I can see why people want 1, I just don't agree. I think sometimes 2 & 3 work, just not in this case.

119375[/snapback]

 

Fair enouth DB, but what about people who have no consciences? They do exist - I think I read that around 1% of us are psyschopaths (who only rarely commit murder, mainly die to deterrence). If she was one these people who show no remorse, what then? Where is the justice for those killed? What is justice for that matter.......?

 

Edit: I'm aware you don't want to get into a debate mind.

Edited April 11, 2006 by Renton

[adios 717]

Not wanting to get into this, I would say that the system is never going to be perfect, but right now it's a fucking disaster. Having a justice system that concentrates solely on improving the statistics would be a step in the right direction.

 

I've never seen those figures, but I don't think "psychopaths" are the biggest problem, although it obviously has to be addressed. I'm more worried about basically uneducated people who don't really understand why they shouldn't do something, not on the level of mental retardation, but sometimes pretty close. Until we can deal with that religion is essential to stability, for the same reason I can't sit down and reason with my cat.

 

Good upbrining would be a fantastic starting point as well. I would say I have a very small conscience, but I was raised to treat people well, solely "because it's the right thing to do",and that's what I do.

 

Any good system would start educating people at an early age, but the problem with that is that the system can be corrupted by people raised in a different environment, unless you shut down your borders; the Netherlands being a good example.

 

Not getting into it, of course...

[Renton 22409]

Not wanting to get into this, I would say that the system is never going to be perfect, but right now it's a fucking disaster.  Having a justice system that concentrates solely on improving the statistics would be a step in the right direction.

 

I've never seen those figures,  but I don't think "psychopaths" are the biggest problem, although it obviously has to be addressed.  I'm more worried about basically uneducated people who don't really understand why they shouldn't do something, not on the level of mental retardation, but sometimes pretty close.  Until we can deal with that religion is essential to stability, for the same reason I can't sit down and reason with my cat.

 

Good upbrining would be a fantastic starting point as well.  I would say I have a very small conscience, but I was raised to treat people well, solely "because it's the right thing to do",and that's what I do.

 

Any good system would start educating people at an early age, but the problem with that is that the system can be corrupted by people raised in a different environment, unless you shut down your borders;  the Netherlands being a good example.

 

Not getting into it, of course...

119439[/snapback]

 

Hmmm. It's strange, I feel crippled by my conscience and I blame it on my catholic upbringing. I literally feel guilty about things all the time. There is no chance I will ever break the law as a result (apart from crimes that don't hurt people like taking drugs), but also I could never achieve anything in business or politics. Mind, overwhelming apathy has always held me back there anyway.

[adios 717]

Hmmm. It's strange, I feel crippled by my conscience and I blame it on my catholic upbringing. I literally feel guilty about things all the time. There is no chance I will ever break the law as a result (apart from crimes that don't hurt people like taking drugs), but also I could never achieve anything in business or politics. Mind, overwhelming apathy has always held me back there anyway.

119444[/snapback]

 

Are you not a bit old to be blaming that on your mother?

 

Business doesn't have to be unethical, especially on a small scale.

 

Plus I wouldn't feel too guilty about people getting ripped off anyway, people could fight the level of shite they put up with, they don't, they deserve what they get </bitterness>.