NO JUSTICE
How can someone kill two children high on drugs and drink and be eligible for parole in just four years?
EXCLUSIVE EVERY day Rhiannon Lucas sits by the graves of her two young children who were killed by a van driver high on booze and drugs.
Rhiannon’s agony at losing Gracieann, four, and Jayden-lee, three, is even harder to bear knowing their killer was jailed for just nine years and four months.
Painter and decorator Martin Newman, 41, was sentenced in April after he admitted causing death by dangerous driving, and drug and drink-driving.
Yet in June judges were given powers to give such drivers life behind bars. Rhiannon has lost a bid to have Newman’s sentence reviewed and has now launched a petition to get justice for her kids.
Gracie-ann and Jayden suffered catastrophic brain injuries in February when his van swerved across the motorway and smashed into the family’s car stopped on the M4 at Newport, South Wales.
Destroyed
Gracie-ann died at 4.45am the next day and Jayden five days later. Rhiannon, 26, who suffered rib fractures and a torn liver, had pulled on to the hard shoulder as Gracie-ann had a sore stomach.
Cardiff crown court heard Newman, of Croeserw, Neath Port Talbot, had drunk double vodka and lemonades with workmates the night before the crash, downed 10 cans of Strongbow cider, and took cocaine until 5am. He admitted he was “tired, drained and hung over”.
Rhiannon, of Tredegar, Blaenau Gwent, said: “How can someone high on drugs and drink kill two children and be eligible for parole in just over four years?
“I will never stop fighting for justice for Gracie-ann and Jayden – I’m pleading with people to sign my petition to get his sentence changed.”
This week Rhiannon marked her birthday by taking a cake to her children’s graves. She said: “It’s my only comfort now because Martin Newman killed them and destroyed our family.”
“I go to their graves every day and take flowers. Blue and yellow flowers for Gracie because she loved Frozen, and red and blue flowers for Jayden because he loved Spider-man.”
feedback@people.co.uk Sign the petition at change.org/p/ justice-for-gracie-ann-and-jayden-lee