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Death crash footballer Courtney Meppen-Walter freed in error | Death crash footballer Courtney Meppen-Walter freed in error |
(about 11 hours later) | |
An ex-Manchester City footballer jailed for killing two people in a car crash was released from prison early by mistake, the Prison Service said. | An ex-Manchester City footballer jailed for killing two people in a car crash was released from prison early by mistake, the Prison Service said. |
Courtney Meppen-Walter, 18, was jailed for 16 months for causing the deaths of brother and sister Kulwant Singh and Ravel Kaur in September. | Courtney Meppen-Walter, 18, was jailed for 16 months for causing the deaths of brother and sister Kulwant Singh and Ravel Kaur in September. |
Their relatives welcomed his return to jail but said it was "further anguish and trauma". | Their relatives welcomed his return to jail but said it was "further anguish and trauma". |
He will be returned to prison after the Prison Service admitted its error. | He will be returned to prison after the Prison Service admitted its error. |
Meppen-Walter admitted causing death by careless driving at Manchester Crown Court and was jailed on 28 February. He has served a quarter of his sentence. | |
Release errors 'rare' | Release errors 'rare' |
A spokesman said: "Police have been informed after a prisoner was released in error on Monday 1 July to ensure he is promptly returned to custody. | A spokesman said: "Police have been informed after a prisoner was released in error on Monday 1 July to ensure he is promptly returned to custody. |
"Releases in error are very rare and we take any incident extremely seriously. | "Releases in error are very rare and we take any incident extremely seriously. |
"An investigation will take place into the circumstances that led to this release." | "An investigation will take place into the circumstances that led to this release." |
A statement issued by the victims' family issued prior to the admission of the player's release error, said they were "devastated" by the decision. | A statement issued by the victims' family issued prior to the admission of the player's release error, said they were "devastated" by the decision. |
At his sentencing, the court heard Meppen-Walter was driving at up to twice the 30mph limit in central Manchester at the time of the crash. | |
The sentencing judge said he would serve half his sentence in custody, but might be released earlier on an electronic tag. | The sentencing judge said he would serve half his sentence in custody, but might be released earlier on an electronic tag. |
He was also banned from driving for three years. | He was also banned from driving for three years. |
Meppen-Walter, of Middleton Road, Blackley, has not played for Manchester City's first team but has captained the England under-18 squad. | Meppen-Walter, of Middleton Road, Blackley, has not played for Manchester City's first team but has captained the England under-18 squad. |
The court was told Mr Singh, 32, and Mrs Kaur, 37, had been sitting in the front of a Nissan Micra when it was struck by a Mercedes C220 saloon driven by Meppen-Walter's, owned by his grandfather, at 22:15 BST on 1 September. | The court was told Mr Singh, 32, and Mrs Kaur, 37, had been sitting in the front of a Nissan Micra when it was struck by a Mercedes C220 saloon driven by Meppen-Walter's, owned by his grandfather, at 22:15 BST on 1 September. |
They had been emerging from a side street when the crash happened, at the junction of Great Ducie Street and Sherborne Street. | They had been emerging from a side street when the crash happened, at the junction of Great Ducie Street and Sherborne Street. |