This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/wales/south_west/6377325.stm
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Six years for drink-drive killer | Six years for drink-drive killer |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| A father has criticised the six year sentence for a drunk driver who killed his son when he crashed into the back of his broken down car in Swansea. | A father has criticised the six year sentence for a drunk driver who killed his son when he crashed into the back of his broken down car in Swansea. |
| Richard Davies, 22, was told he will serve half the term before being released under supervision on licence. | Richard Davies, 22, was told he will serve half the term before being released under supervision on licence. |
| Davies, of Swansea, who was convicted of causing death by dangerous driving, was nearly three times over the limit. | Davies, of Swansea, who was convicted of causing death by dangerous driving, was nearly three times over the limit. |
| Domenic Hopkins, 18, of Port Talbot, died as he tried to fix a wheel problem on his car on Fabian Way, 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. |
| 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. |
| 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 |
| 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." |
| 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. |
| Richard Davies had denied causing death by dangerous driving | Richard Davies had denied causing death by dangerous driving |
| The judge told Davies - also given a six-year driving ban - 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 - also given a six-year driving ban - 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." |