Furious family’s court outburst as killer driver, 90, is spared jail
the family of two women killed by a 90-year- old driver erupted in anger yesterday after a judge spared him from prison.
As Philip Bull was led from court, a relative shouted at his sons: ‘I hope your dad lives a long time to regret this. I hope he thinks about them every day.’
Another shouted ‘the British justice system is s***e’ while others wept in the public gallery or stormed out of court.
Bull had reversed into Clare haslam and her partner Deborah Clifton in a hospital car park. Miss Clifton, 49, was crushed under the wheels of his automatic Ford Focus and died in hospital. Miss haslam, 44, also suffered fatal injuries.
Bull was given a two-year prison sentence, suspended for two years, after admitting causing death by dangerous driving.
the retired textile merchant had been taking Audrey, his wife of 65 years, to Withington Community hospital in Manchester for a dementia appointment. he was said to be in a confused state after the impact, asking bystanders what he had done.
the pensioner, who had a clean licence and no medical conditions to prevent him driving, later said he thought he was pressing his foot down on the brake and not the accelerator.
he told police: ‘I cannot think of any worse way to come to the end of my life, having ended the lives of others.’
Following the hearing at Manchester Crown Court, Miss Clifton’s sister Julie said she was devastated by the ‘unfair’ sentence.
She added: ‘We haven’t had justice because they kept going on about him, about how he is 90 and his wife and what a great life they have had – but my sister isn’t even going to see 50. they had so much left to live for.’
She said her agony was made worse by the fact Bull had never apologised to the families.
‘It doesn’t matter how old you are when you cause death by dangerous driving,’ she said. ‘We weren’t considered in there
‘They had so much to live for’
– it was all about him. I hope he remembers this for the rest of his life and I hope he lives a very long time.’
Passing sentence, Judge Martin Walsh said the reaction of the families was understandable. But he insisted a jail sentence would have no deterrent effect because the crime was unintended.
he told Bull: ‘I’m quite satisfied you would, if you could, turn back the clock – it was a genuine and catastrophic mistake. You will live for the rest of your life in the knowledge that your unintended actions on this occasion resulted in the death of two people. that is your burden to bear.’
the judge said there was nothing he could do to make up for the devastating loss suffered by the families.
the tragic accident happened on March 7 after Bull dropped his wife off in an ambulance bay and helped her into the hospital with her walking frame.
he got back in his car to reverse into a parking space but suddenly accelerated, ploughing his car through a metal barrier before hitting the two women and smashing into a wall. Sarah Johnston, prosecuting, told the court: ‘Unintentional acceleration is a phenomenon not uncommon, especially with elderly driving and automatic cars.’
In mitigation, Richard Vardon, said Bull was hugely remorseful. he added: ‘It is immediately tragic for the victim’s family and friends but I don’t think anyone can deny this is a tragedy for the defendant and especially for his wife who he cares for.’
the defence lawyer stressed his client’s age had nothing to do with the accident and argued that it was an exceptional case in which he could be spared jail. Bull, from Wythenshawe, south Manchester, was also banned from driving for life.
the maximum sentence is 14 years in jail but the Government is planning to raise it to life imprisonment in line with manslaughter.
Bull was described in court as a ‘decent, honourable and hardworking man’ who served in the Army before working in textiles.
Miss haslam and Miss Clifton, who had been together for 17 years and lived in Chorlton, were described as blissfully happy. they had care of a ten-year-old child who was a relative of the family.