The family of a pregnant mother and her son killed by a teenage hit and run driver yesterday condemned his seven year jail sentence as 'too soft'.
Raja Ibrer Faisel, 19, sped through a red light before hitting Sarah Hunt, 28, and two of her children on a pedestrian crossing as she walked them to their father's home.
Faisel, who was on bail for robbery and had been smoking cannabis, then carried on for 450 yards with seven months pregnant Mrs Hunt wedged under the car.
(...)
Mrs Hunt died on impact, while her nine year old son Kieran died in hospital. Her other son Ryan, seven, who suffered multiple injuries, survived but has been left deeply traumatised.
Mrs Hunt's unborn baby, a boy who was to be named Connor, could not be saved.
(...)
Earlier this month Faisel admitted causing the deaths of Mrs Hunt and Kieran by dangerous driving, an offence which carries a maximum sentence of 14 years.
Judge John Saunders, QC sentenced him to seven years concurrent on each count.
Outside court Matthew Trustlove, an uncle of Mrs Hunt, criticised the sentence, pointing out that Faisel is likely to serve only half his sentence before being released.
He said in a statement on behalf of the family: "What kind of sentence would ever be good enough to cover the amount of life that has been lost and devastated? None.
"As a family we are disgusted at the sentence which only amounts to 18 months per life. In three and a half years time he will be able to rebuild his life while Sarah, Kieran and Connor's journey has ended.
"Something needs to be done about the law regarding unborn babies as this man killed three people and left three devastated children behind."
(...)
Before sentencing the judge said that while "many people who hear of my sentence through the press will consider that it does not adequately reflect the horror of what happened", he had to take into account the parameters of his sentencing powers as laid down by Parliament and the Court of Appeal.
He said the seven-year detention was "not intended to measure the value of the lives that have been lost or the loss of those left behind" and described the consequences of the tragedy as "appalling".
Mrs Hunt's family had been "decimated", he said, been subjected to "utter and abject misery" and "the remaining members of the family and close friends will feel the effects of these events for the rest of their lives".
The judge said the aggravating features of the case meant the offences came within the "most serious culpability range when the starting parameters are set at seven to 14 years", but he had to give a discount for the mitigating features, principally the plea of guilty.
source.
What a wretched system, although I don't know that things are any better in Canada.
The unborn child was obviously a member of that family. Are they "fetus fetishists" for loving their unborn kid and wanting justice for his death?
The "anti-fetus-fetishists" crowd is completely insensitive to the suffering of families like these, who love their unborn children.
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