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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Six years for drink-drive killer | Six years for drink-drive killer |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A motorist who killed a teenager by crashing into his parked car while almost three times the drink-drive limit has been jailed for six years. | A motorist who killed a teenager by crashing into his parked car while almost three times the drink-drive limit has been jailed for six years. |
| Richard Davies, 22, was told he will serve half the sentence before being released under supervision on licence. | Richard Davies, 22, was told he will serve half the sentence before being released under supervision on licence. |
| Davies, of Swansea, who was convicted of causing death by dangerous driving, was also given a six-year driving ban. | Davies, of Swansea, who was convicted of causing death by dangerous driving, was also given a six-year driving ban. |
| Domenic Hopkins, 18, of Port Talbot, died when he stopped to check a wheel on Fabian Way, Swansea last year. | Domenic Hopkins, 18, of Port Talbot, died when he stopped to check a wheel on Fabian Way, Swansea last year. |
| The sixth former, who was studying maths and history, had just been accepted into the RAF when he parked his Vauxhall Tigra on the inside lane of the dual carriageway of the A483 on 4 March 2006. | The sixth former, who was studying maths and history, had just been accepted into the RAF when he parked his Vauxhall Tigra on the inside lane of the dual carriageway of the A483 on 4 March 2006. |
| He took my son's life and there is no way of bringing him back Domenic Hopkins' father, Alyn | He took my son's life and there is no way of bringing him back Domenic Hopkins' father, Alyn |
| Swansea Crown Court heard that he had got out to inspect a rear offside wheel arch, but had told his two passengers, Natalie Gill and Leah Grange, to stand on the verge, where they would be safer. | Swansea Crown Court heard that he had got out to inspect a rear offside wheel arch, but had told his two passengers, Natalie Gill and Leah Grange, to stand on the verge, where they would be safer. |
| The Manchester United fan was searching in his boot as Davies approached in his Vauxhall Corsa which appeared to be "snaking" across the road, the jury heard during the trial. | The Manchester United fan was searching in his boot as Davies approached in his Vauxhall Corsa which appeared to be "snaking" across the road, the jury heard during the trial. |
| The Corsa hit the back of the Tigra at between 50-55mph. | The Corsa hit the back of the Tigra at between 50-55mph. |
| After the impact, Davies got out of his car "rubbing his head", and had told a police officer: "I have had about six pints. It is all my fault," the court heard. | After the impact, Davies got out of his car "rubbing his head", and had told a police officer: "I have had about six pints. It is all my fault," the court heard. |
| Mr Hopkins was pronounced dead a few hours later at Morriston Hospital, Swansea. | Mr Hopkins was pronounced dead a few hours later at Morriston Hospital, Swansea. |
| Immediately after the majority verdict at Swansea Crown Court in January, Davies admitted a separate charge of drink-driving. | Immediately after the majority verdict at Swansea Crown Court in January, Davies admitted a separate charge of drink-driving. |
| Judge Keith Thomas told Davies, from the Birchgrove area of the city: "It would be unreasonable to categorise you as a dangerous offender. | Judge Keith Thomas told Davies, from the Birchgrove area of the city: "It would be unreasonable to categorise you as a dangerous offender. |
| "I can only conclude that you were either dropping off to sleep or doing something else in your car that caused you to take your eyes off the road." | "I can only conclude that you were either dropping off to sleep or doing something else in your car that caused you to take your eyes off the road." |
| Richard Davies had denied causing death by dangerous driving | Richard Davies had denied causing death by dangerous driving |
| He said the effect on Mr Hopkins' family had been devastating, and his life could not be restored by any sentence he passed. | He said the effect on Mr Hopkins' family had been devastating, and his life could not be restored by any sentence he passed. |
| The judge told Davies that he was 22 and of previous good character, but the volume of alcohol in his system was almost three times the drink-drive limit and he was guilty of blatantly bad driving. | The judge told Davies that he was 22 and of previous good character, but the volume of alcohol in his system was almost three times the drink-drive limit and he was guilty of blatantly bad driving. |
| Following the sentence, Mr Hopkins' father, Alyn, criticised the jail term adding that anyone convicted of causing death should "start at the maximum". | Following the sentence, Mr Hopkins' father, Alyn, criticised the jail term adding that anyone convicted of causing death should "start at the maximum". |
| "Six years is what I expected because they are too lenient," he said | "Six years is what I expected because they are too lenient," he said |
| "This is not real justice - he took my son's life and there is no way of bringing him back. | "This is not real justice - he took my son's life and there is no way of bringing him back. |
| "The punishment does not fit the crime - let's hope we can change some of the laws. | "The punishment does not fit the crime - let's hope we can change some of the laws. |
| "All I can try and do is get the silly little laws changed. He's just been driving for 11 months. | "All I can try and do is get the silly little laws changed. He's just been driving for 11 months. |
| "He should have had an interim ban immediately but the law doesn't allow it. | "He should have had an interim ban immediately but the law doesn't allow it. |
| "As soon as you are involved in a fatality, your licence should be suspended until the court case." | "As soon as you are involved in a fatality, your licence should be suspended until the court case." |