Re: UK Train Crash Manslaughter Case fails

["David & Sharon" <d.ready@chello.nl>]

Hi Guys,

I watched the report of this story on the BBC1 news and after seeing the
footage of the driver leaving court I was outraged that the family of those
killed were outraged. I don't know what they wanted, other than a life for a
life? Seeing the poor pathetic, emotionally destroyed driver who has been
sentenced to a life without a life and a life without the possibility of
ever working again is enough punishment for anybody.

DavidR

David Bennetts <davibenn@pcug.org.au> wrote in message
377e9843.0@newshost.pcug.org.au">news:377e9843.0@newshost.pcug.org.au...
> In September 1997 a high speed train operated by Great Western Trains
> crashed, killing 7 passengers and causing 10 million pounds damage.  The
> London Daily Telegraph reports that Great Western Trains and the driver
were
> both charged with seven counts of manslaughter, but the case failed, the
> Judge criticising MPs for inadequacies in the law which made prosecution
> impossible.  The train was faulty as the AWC equipment was switched out,
and
> no second person was employed to compensate for the failure of this safety
> device.  The driver was not paying sufficient attention as he was packing
> his bag when the train ran a red signal.
>
> Interesting, I wonder if the situation in the law would protect our
> passengers against the negligence of a driver and/or operator if a similar
> scenario developed in Australia.  With our multiplicity of state laws and
> privatisation of our railways proceeding rapidly, have our pollies given
the
> matter a second thought?
>
> Regards
> David Bennetts
> Canberra
>
>