Heartbroken family slams sentence handed to killer
THE Gran of Corey and Casper has branded the sentence given to her grandsons’ killer as a “joke”.
Robert Brown, of Wyken, Coventry, was, on Friday, jailed for nine years for both counts of death by dangerous driving, to run concurrently, and four years for driving while disqualified, also to run concurrently.
He had ploughed into the brothers as they crossed Longfellow Road in Stoke with their family on the way to the park, killing two-year-old Casper and his brother Corey, six.
His co-defendant Gwendoline Harrison, 41, of Triumph Close, Wyken, had the charge of causing the death of Corey and Casper, dropped at the last court hearing.
She instead pleaded guilty to assault with intent to resist arrest, and was jailed for six months.
Their Gran, Carolyn Platt, took to social media to express her anger at the sentence. She posted: “9yrs .... so will serve 4 1/2 !!!!!! ” Replying to a comment on the same status, she slammed the sentence, calling it a joke.
She said: “Will only serve 3!! Gets a third knocked off for pleading guilty then only serves half... a joke.”
The brothers’ aunt, Tia Fletcher, has also taken to Facebook to question the justice system.
Her status read: “Justice system... what justice system.”
Following the sentencing, the boys’ devastated parents, Louise and Reece Platt-May, called on the Government to introduce life sentences for drivers who kill.
Reece emerged from court with red raw eyes as their lawyer Rebecca Hearsey, specialist at Irwin Mitchell, read a statement from the family calling for a change in law.
She said: “We often see firsthand the devastation and heartbreak that is caused by the reckless and selfish actions of drivers such as Robert Brown who pose a real danger on our roads. “Judges tariffs are hamstrung and many by people current will sentencing be shocked by the apparent lenient sentence that Robert Brown has received. “While it is sadly too late for Corey and Casper’s family and many other families that have been ripped apart because of drivers who kill or seriously injure loved ones, we hope that the tragic deaths of Corey and Casper highlight the need for judges to be allowed to impose more stringent sentences in such cases if they deem appropriate. “We welcome the proposals Ministry of to Justice’s introduce tougher sentences and would ask that these proposals are turned into law at the earliest
possible opportunity. “Hopefully they will act as a deterrent and help motorists to think about the consequences of their actions, so the number of people killed or badly injured on our roads reduces.” had Husband their written whole Reece by life Louise, bravely stolen. it said: read They out “They will a never statement have have the chance to play with toys, eat their favourite foods, play together and have a future with a family of their own. “Their whole lives are gone. They will never hold my hand and hug me so tight I can’t breathe. “I would like to express the impact the loss has had on their brothers. Watching that Louise is heartbreaking said her eldest for me.” son Connor has panic attacks and she hears him screaming at night. She added: “Being only two years older when Corey was born, he has never known life without him. He finds it hard to focus for any length of time.”
Their whole lives are gone. They will never hold my hand and hug me so tight I can’t breathe Mum Louise Platt-May