‘Wasteful’ death of motorcyclist has left family with an ‘unfillable hole’
A driver who killed a motorcyclist because he didn’t look properly as he turned onto a main road has been spared jail. Warren Hughes caused the “wasteful and unnecessary’ death of motorcyclist Marcin Salwa, a court heard today.
His family said the death of their selfless brother, 40, leaves an “unfillable hole”. The accident happened as Hughes’ Vauxhall Vectra turned onto Halkyn Road near Holywell[1] on February 3 last year.
Hughes, 51, who waited at the scene for police to arrive, pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving. A judge at Mold[2] Crown Court said no sentence can restore a life and gave the defendant an eight-month jail term, suspended for 12 months.
Courts:North Wales truck firm fined £100,000 after trucker died in fall[4]
Hughes, of Caer Ffynnon, Bagillt, was disqualified from driving for 12 months and must also wear an electronic tag to observe a 6.30pm to 6.30am curfew for four months.
Prosecutor Elen Owen said Mr Salwa had set off on his motorbike for work in darkness at 5.30am that day. But at 5.40am Hughes in his silver Vectra pulled out and turned right into his path.
Ms Owen said Mr Salwa, who was riding within the 40mph speed limit and had priority on the main road, had his headlight on which was dimmed. But he had no time to avoid the collision and died instantly.[5]
Police were called and Hughes told officers “juddered or stalled or he believed it would stall”. The court heard though that Hughes did not repeat this explanation and tests showed their was nothing wrong with either vehicle.
In a statement Mr Salwa’s sister Aleesha said the family is heartbroken. She said she hoped there had been a mistake until she received Marcin’s wallet from police and realised the truth.
She added: “We hugely miss his infectious smile, his jokes, conversation and advice but most of all we miss him being here with us.” The loss of Marcin leaves an “unfillable hole” and she can never forgive the driver who took his life.
She said her brother was a ‘Renaissance man” who had many interests including physics, chemistry, astronomy and politics. He was selfless and tutored young relatives in maths and chemistry.
His workmates considered him valuable and knowledgeable with a good work ethic. Aleesha said she and her partner had just bought a house and should have been celebrating.
You can sign up for all the latest court stories here[6]
Instead they were crying and planning a funeral. Their father couldn’t face visiting the UK and their mother was so distressed she couldn’t come to court.
Oliver Jarvis, defending, said his client accepts his guilt and that he should have been concentrating. He hasn’t worked since the accident, is on benefits and intends to resign.
The judge His Honour Niclas Parry told the defendant: “You will understand you are the sole cause of the wasteful and unnecessary loss of a life of a son, a brother and uncle – a rather special man, described very succinctly and properly as a Renaissance man.
“(He was) a hardworking man who simply rode in the early hours of the morning to do an honest day’s work. He was killed by you failing to pay proper attention. You simply did not look.”
But he said the public would and do understand that there can be no correlation between the loss of a life and the length of a sentence. And the length of a sentence will never satisfy a family in these circumstances.
References
- ^ Holywell (www.dailypost.co.uk)
- ^ Mold (www.dailypost.co.uk)
- ^ Drugs, weapons and cash seized as 20 arrested in major police raids (www.dailypost.co.uk)
- ^ North Wales truck firm fined £100,000 after trucker died in fall (www.dailypost.co.uk)
- ^ he had no time to avoid the collision and died instantly. (www.dailypost.co.uk)
- ^ latest court stories here (www.dailypost.co.uk)