Im almost within two minds about posting in here, but I think it needs saying before sentencing.
First of all I would like to say R.I.P to Gav Collier, such a tragic story and ive spent a long time reading this thread. Didn't know the lad, never used this forum a year ago, but this thread says it all really, clearly a loved lad and yet another waste of life, and a group of family and friends destroyed.
Speaking from the experience of my ex best friends' brother, who also sadly died in a car accident aged 20 - this is an awful time, feelings are still raw, and close people will never get to terms with the death of someone so close.
As for the driver, Nathan, he has to live with the death of a person for the rest of his life. Now if that was me, the jail sentence he will receive is immaterial. The same can be said whether he is charged with death by dangerous, or death by careless driving. This time last year he was probably a normal lad enjoying life as was Gav, and now he is getting treated as a murderer and has alot of people feeling that of him too. Now if that was me, I certainly don't know how I would cope. As for denying death by dangerous driving and giving a 'predetermined statement' - this will be the actions of a solicitor - the lad has admitted to speeding, and the defence wants to put this to the Crown to assess whether speed and an unroadworthy car alone constitutes dangerous driving. To be honest, I feel he will get charged with dangerous driving, as the tragic loss warrants it. But nothing will change the most important outcome of this story, nothing can.. and Nathan will most likely be 'walking free' within 3 years time, but the main sentence is in his head which he will take to the grave.
There is a lesson to be learned to everyone here. I was driving tonight with my best mate, on country roads, where the speed limit changed from 70 to 50. As i went passed the 50 marker, I looked at my speed, and this story came into my head and I thought how precious life is and how I would feel if something happened to my passengers.
Its a tragic accident, and for everyone involved, time is probably the biggest healer.
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