Joyrider, 15, who killed five could go free in 2 years
RELATIVES of five people killed by a 15-year-old joyrider who crashed a stolen car attacked his four-year sentence yesterday, saying it’s ‘not justice’.
The youngster, who cannot be named for legal reasons, killed two men and three children in the car when he lost control at 88mph in a 30mph zone and hit a tree.
Brothers Ellis and Elliott ThorntonKimmitt, aged 12 and 14, died in the crash in Leeds, along with Darnell Harte, 15, Robbie Meerun, 24, and father-of-two Anthony Armour, 24.
The boy received four and a half years’ detention – but could be out in just over two years.
The stolen Renault Clio was split in two by the impact, which threw all five victims from the car. The driver – the only one wearing a seatbelt – was the sole survivor and fled the scene of the crash last November.
He was detained after admitting five counts of causing death by dangerous driving.
Sentencing the boy at Leeds Crown Court, Judge Peter Collier QC told him: ‘You will live with this every day of your life.’
But speaking outside court, Darnell’s sister, Elise Dhers, said: ‘We have to live with the sight of seeing my little brother through a window with his face smashed in. Four years is not even a year for a life.’
His other sister, Natasha Dhers, added: ‘In two years he is going to be out. We are going to have to look at him and not say anything because he has served justice. That’s not justice.’
Police described the crash, which happened at 10pm on November 25, as ‘catastrophic’ and ‘a scene of total carnage’.
Patrick Palmer, prosecuting, told how the defendant, who appeared in court on a video link, was among a group who stole the car in order to sell it.
It was then seen going through red lights at up to 80mph.
Mr Palmer said one driver saw ‘the Clio on the wrong side of the road driving at her’, adding: ‘She was terrified. She stopped but the car collided with a tree. She could see a passenger lying face down near the driver’s door and two others on the ground. Then she saw the defendant run members He off said after a of resident the being public.’ had chased helped by the defendant, who could not open the driver’s door because a body was lying against it. Judge Collier told the boy: ‘ You were trapped. People helped you out and told you to stay, but you ran away. ‘You then told a lot of lies, saying you had not been the driver. However, after you had been charged you decided to own up. ‘I do not think there will ever be a day when you will not really regret what you did.’ The boy was banned from driving for seven years and three months. After the trial, Police Superintendent Lisa Atkinson said: ‘No sentence can ever compensate the families of those who died.’