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Man jailed for 13 months for 'brutal' death of woman he ran over Man jailed for 13 months for 'brutal' death of woman he ran over
(about 1 hour later)
Ms Howard was comforted by members of the public before she died Beryl Howard was comforted by members of the public before she died
A man has been jailed for 13 months after hitting an elderly woman with his van, before running over her "several times" while he tried to reverse. A man who killed an 83-year-old great-grandmother when he repeatedly ran over her with his van has been jailed for 13 months.
Beryl Howard, 83, suffered "unsurvivable injuries" in the "brutal" incident on Green Lane Avenue in Street, Somerset. Beryl Howard suffered "unsurvivable injuries" in the "sudden and brutal" incident in Street, Somerset, in 2023, her family said.
Driver Reece McKinven, 31, was jailed at Taunton Crown Court on Tuesday and banned from driving for two-and-a-half years after admitting causing death by careless driving. Cannabis user Reece McKinven, 31, was jailed at Taunton Crown Court on Tuesday and banned from driving for two-and-a-half years after admitting causing death by careless driving.
Ms Howard's daughter, Sharon Perry, said her loss had been made worse because she "suffered such a horrific death". Ms Howard's daughter, Sharon Perry, said her family would "never get over what happened" and they were haunted by "thinking of the pain and terror she must have felt".
When officers arrested McKinven, of of Pearmain Road in Street, they found 0.5g of cannabis on him, as well as cannabis in his system. McKiven previously told the court he had not seen Ms Howard when his vehicle struck her in Green Lane Avenue at about 17:20 GMT on 16 March 2023.
More of the drug was found in his van when it was seized by police after the fatal episode, which happened just before 17:20 GMT on 16 March, 2023.. He also said he was not aware she was underneath his van as he then tried to reverse several times.
As Ms Howard lay severely injured on the ground, members of the public sought to comfort her in her final moments.
When officers arrested McKinven, of Pearmain Road in Street, they found 0.5g of cannabis on him, as well as cannabis in his system.
More of the drug was found in his van when it was seized by police.
He later admitted causing death by careless driving, causing death by driving a vehicle without a licence, causing death by driving a vehicle without insurance, and possession of a class B drug.He later admitted causing death by careless driving, causing death by driving a vehicle without a licence, causing death by driving a vehicle without insurance, and possession of a class B drug.
Reece McKinven was found to be just under the legal limit for cannabis when he reversed over his victim four timesReece McKinven was found to be just under the legal limit for cannabis when he reversed over his victim four times
Sentencing judge Cook said he accepted that McKinven "genuinely" failed to realise Ms Howard was behind him, but he had a "history of offences and it shows a cavalier attitude to driving". Sentencing, Judge Paul Cook said he accepted McKinven "genuinely" failed to realise Ms Howard was behind him, but told him "your van had wing mirrors with an enhanced blind spot and she was there to be seen".
He also told the court the defendent had a "history of offences and it shows a cavalier attitude to driving".
Despite McKinven having traces of cannabis in his system, the level was not above the legal limit for prosecution.Despite McKinven having traces of cannabis in his system, the level was not above the legal limit for prosecution.
However, Ray Howard, Ms Howard's son, argued it was an "arbitrary cut-off point".However, Ray Howard, Ms Howard's son, argued it was an "arbitrary cut-off point".
"If McKinven had even the tiniest amount more in his system, the judge would have been free to pass a much longer sentence," he said. He said: "If McKinven had even the tiniest amount more in his system, the judge would have been free to pass a much longer sentence.
"Anyone who knowingly gets into a vehicle having consumed illegal drugs should be held fully accountable for their actions.""Anyone who knowingly gets into a vehicle having consumed illegal drugs should be held fully accountable for their actions."
'Heartbreak and anger''Heartbreak and anger'
Mr Howard said their mother's "sudden and brutal death" had left their family "shattered". Mr Howard said his mother's "sudden and brutal death" had left their family "shattered".
"Beryl was a loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother who brought immense joy and love to all who knew her," he said."Beryl was a loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother who brought immense joy and love to all who knew her," he said.
"Knowing that McKinven was driving without a licence, without insurance, and after consuming illegal drugs only deepens our heartbreak and anger at the entirely preventable nature of this tragedy."Knowing that McKinven was driving without a licence, without insurance, and after consuming illegal drugs only deepens our heartbreak and anger at the entirely preventable nature of this tragedy.
"We are grateful that someone sat with her whilst she died, otherwise she would have been on her own in her last few minutes of life.""We are grateful that someone sat with her whilst she died, otherwise she would have been on her own in her last few minutes of life."
Ms Howard's daughter, Sharon Perry, added: "We are a close family and saw Beryl almost every day. She is greatly missed. Ms Perry added: "We are a close family and saw Beryl almost every day. She is greatly missed.
"It has been so much harder as she suffered such a horrific death. It is so hard to bear thinking of the pain and terror she must have felt."It has been so much harder as she suffered such a horrific death. It is so hard to bear thinking of the pain and terror she must have felt.
"We will never get over what happened to her.""We will never get over what happened to her."
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