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Michael Junior jailed over Handsworth sisters death crash Michael Junior jailed over Handsworth sisters death crash
(about 1 hour later)
A driver who knocked down and killed two young sisters has been sentenced to four years in prison. A driver who knocked down and killed two sisters on a pedestrian crossing has been jailed for four years.
Shelly Wu, six, and Lily Wu, seven, were hit by Michael Junior in Handsworth, Birmingham, last June.Shelly Wu, six, and Lily Wu, seven, were hit by Michael Junior in Handsworth, Birmingham, last June.
Junior, 35, had admitted two charges of causing death by dangerous driving and three charges of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.Junior, 35, had admitted two charges of causing death by dangerous driving and three charges of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
Judge Murray Creed said he had ended two young children's lives and injured three others. The sisters were hit by his car while holding hands as they crossed the road on their way to Chinese classes.
He had also caused "significant psychological trauma" to the children's mother, the judge said. Judge Murray Creed told Junior he had ended two young children's lives and injured two other children along with the girls' mother Zhulan.
Mrs Wu had been left with "significant psychological trauma", the judge told him. The court heard she had had to be sectioned earlier this year.
The other two children have since recovered.
More on this story and others Birmingham and Black CountryMore on this story and others Birmingham and Black Country
Prosecuting, Gareth Walters told Birmingham Crown Court that Junior's speed was an estimated 47mph (75km/h) when he struck the family on Grove Lane. The court heard Junior had accelerated to get around a bus just before a blind left-hand bend, leaving him no time to react as the family crossed in front of him.
He also ignored road signs warning of elderly pedestrians crossing, a sign reading "Slow" and chevron markings indicating a crossing ahead.
Prosecuting, Gareth Walters told Birmingham Crown Court Junior's speed was an estimated 47mph (75km/h) in a 30mph (48.3km/h) when he struck the family on Grove Lane.
Two of the four children survived but Lily and Shelly suffered fatal head injuries.Two of the four children survived but Lily and Shelly suffered fatal head injuries.
Judge Creed said Junior had hit the pedestrians as they reached a central reservation.
"Mrs Wu [and the other children] hit the front and were thrown to the floor. But unhappily, the two smaller children were carried a short distance along the bonnet before being left to lie in the road, both fatally injured," he said.
Outside court, family friend Alex Yip read a statement, saying: "Four years is not long enough - for us this is a life sentence."
In mitigation, Timothy Harrington said Junior, of Copthall Road, Handsworth, wished to apologise to the Wu family but asked the judge to regard the incident as a "one-off", a single moment of bad driving.In mitigation, Timothy Harrington said Junior, of Copthall Road, Handsworth, wished to apologise to the Wu family but asked the judge to regard the incident as a "one-off", a single moment of bad driving.
Junior was also disqualified from driving for five years.Junior was also disqualified from driving for five years.
The sisters both attended Wilkes Green Primary School in Handsworth. The school has said it is raising money to create a peace garden in their memory. The sisters both attended Wilkes Green Primary School in Handsworth. The school said it had been raising money to create a peace garden in their memory.