Father found guilty of killing four of his kids in a car accident

[Yorick]

Latest news is, since the conviction the mother has run off with the oldest child, leaving the younger two with friends.

Family destroyed. Nice going prosecutors.

Is that the way Britain metes out justice is it. I'm reading plenty of comments online from Brits almost crying revenge. Revenge? For accidentally killing the children you love more than anything.

Sick.

[Kakero]

Originally Posted by Yorick Did you read the case? The kids died because the axle corroded and the car fell into a river. He drove up onto the embankment to avoid another vehicle. If anything he was speeding (which he denies). Something I see every driver do on American freeways everyday.

How can you be sure that really happened?

Court : He drove too fast and the car fell into the river.

Father : drive onto the embarkment to avoid another vehicle, the axle corroded and the car fell into the river.

Which one is to believe?

[Firestormalpha]

That's why they have this funny little thing called evidence. And the corrosion of the bracket isn't the "father's story", it's the facts as laid out in the article. I didn't realize people were so opposed to the notion of reading things.

[Yorick]

Originally Posted by Kakero How can you be sure that really happened? Court : He drove too fast and the car fell into the river. Father : drive onto the embarkment to avoid another vehicle, the axle corroded and the car fell into the river. Which one is to believe?

The police story. He was found guilty of reckless endangerment BECAUSE OF THE STATE OF THE VEHICLE. Read the frigging case before commenting.

They're saying "he must have known" that the vehicle was problematic. And so he's guilty.

It has nothing to do with him driving up on the riverbank to avoid the oncoming vehicle.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle5308760.ece

“A number of the modifications were ill-judged, many were incompetently carried out and he also failed to carry out a number of repairs. The jury were shown DVD footage of police tests carried out on the car at RAF Scampton, which found that the calliper on the offside front brake was larger than the one on the nearside front brake, which caused the car to slew when the brakes were applied. Mr Spencer told the jury that the brake pedals were worn and that, as a result, the brake pedal had to be pressed “pretty much down to the floor” before it began to stop the car. Experts also found the steering and rear axle to be defective”

[Yorick]

Originally Posted by Firestormalpha That's why they have this funny little thing called evidence. And the corrosion of the bracket isn't the "father's story", it's the facts as laid out in the article. I didn't realize people were so opposed to the notion of reading things.

He's just being contrary to be contrary. It's called flamebait, and he should be called on it.

[Kakero]

And put up the rest of the frigging news if you want people to know what really happened.

From your first post it led me to believe the father was the culprit.

Any other links you can put up?

[Bungleau]

There are no winners in this, and the losers keep mounting.

I don't pretend to understand the UK laws involved. It's apparent that he lost control and the vehicle went into the river. It's claimed that his modifications caused the vehicle to lose control. Reading the bits of the story, however, it sounds to me like the police reports are not as objective as they could be.

In any case, he lost four of his children in a day, and as a result of his actions (at the very least, since he was driving). The death of *one* child has a dramatic impact on a family... four? I don't want to imagine.

He's already paying a debt to a higher justice... and more punishment here on earth. Jailing him, IMHO from across the pond with little actual knowledge of the case and the law, seems to be... redundant, or superfluous at best.

[Kakero]

To clarify :

This is what I read in yorick's first post

Father guilty of children's deaths Lincoln Crown Court was told Nigel Gresham had been driving his heavily-modified vehicle too fast when it ended up plunging into the River Witham in Lincolnshire in September last year. Gresham had mounted a grass verge to avoid an oncoming van and trailer, and when he tried to return to the road, the corroded bracket, or hanger, snapped, sending the car into the water near Tattershall Bridge. The crash killed four of his seven children - two-year-old Willow, Angel, four, Thor, six, and eight-year-old Keavy. Gresham, 37, his partner Sara Bolland and their three eldest children - Amber, 11, Liam 14, and Star, also 14 - survived the crash. The accused did not take the stand and no evidence was offered in his defence during the trial. Gresham, of Chapel Hill, Lincolnshire, has sat slumped in the dock, head bowed, through much of the trial. He became visibly upset at mentions of his children. He had denied all four counts against him.

This is what I read in yorick's first post link.

Father guilty of children's deaths 11 hours 38 mins ago Print Story A father has been found guilty of causing the deaths of four of his children who died when their Land Rover plunged into a river. Skip related content Related photos / videos Father guilty of children's deaths Lincoln Crown Court was told Nigel Gresham had been driving his heavily-modified vehicle too fast when it ended up plunging into the River Witham in Lincolnshire in September last year. Gresham had mounted a grass verge to avoid an oncoming van and trailer, and when he tried to return to the road, the corroded bracket, or hanger, snapped, sending the car into the water near Tattershall Bridge. The crash killed four of his seven children - two-year-old Willow, Angel, four, Thor, six, and eight-year-old Keavy. Gresham, 37, his partner Sara Bolland and their three eldest children - Amber, 11, Liam 14, and Star, also 14 - survived the crash. The accused did not take the stand and no evidence was offered in his defence during the trial. Gresham, of Chapel Hill, Lincolnshire, has sat slumped in the dock, head bowed, through much of the trial. He became visibly upset at mentions of his children. He had denied all four counts against him.

it's basically the same as the one yorick quoted.

So can you can imagine how one will feel puzzled when people tell him to read the friggin thing?

And being called a flamebait somemore. shesh!

[Variol (Farseer) Elmwood]

I have to agree with K' here. Please post the entire article, or let us know that's it's only partial.

To me, I value one life the same as four. We put too much emphasis on quantity.
In the case of 7 children, I have to think these parents are quantity oriented.

I know it's a side issue, but that many kids today, is just pain dumb and selfish. There are way too many others starving and dying today.

[Stratos]

Originally Posted by Yorick Latest news is, since the conviction the mother has run off with the oldest child, leaving the younger two with friends. Family destroyed. Nice going prosecutors. Is that the way Britain metes out justice is it. I'm reading plenty of comments online from Brits almost crying revenge. Revenge? For accidentally killing the children you love more than anything. Sick.

Well, if the mother choose to run of with one of the children that's hardly something you can blame the prosecutors for.