Police apathy in investigating cyclists's deaths exposed.

number9
number9 Posts: 440
edited June 2008 in Commuting chat

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/ ... article.do

The parents of a student killed while cycling are set to launch a private legal battle after claiming police failed to investigate his death properly.

Vinnie Carta, 21, from Enfield, a third-year physics student at Cambridge University, was in collision with a car near his student digs as he rode to his part-time job as a children's maths tutor last November.

He suffered massive head injuries, even though he was wearing a helmet, and died in hospital the following day, with his parents at his bedside.

No charges were brought against the driver, who was found to have been doing 48mph inside a 60mph zone, and an inquest recorded a narrative verdict that Vinnie's death was an accident.

But his parents, John, 51, and Anthea, 49, believe police and prosecutors accepted the driver's account of events without carrying out a thorough investigation or appealing widely enough for witnesses.

They have employed a crash investigator to re-examine what happened and if he finds they could have a case are considering bringing a private prosecution against the driver.

Mr Carta, a bus safety examiner, said: "Vinnie was an experienced cyclist. He was on his new bike, wearing a helmet and reflective clothing. He was on a well-lit route, which he took all the time. He knew what he was doing.

"The driver has changed his story several times. We think he was in a rush to get home, thinking he was coming up to a 60mph road, and just didn't pay attention to the road. Vinnie was flipped in the air and landed on the car.

"We're not looking for revenge. We're not vindictive. We just want the law to be applied. The police should have put up witness appeal boards but they said that could cause more accidents."

Comments

  • Gr.uB
    Gr.uB Posts: 145
    You missed this bit. The important bit.

    A Cambridgeshire Constbulary spokeswoman said: "A thorough investigation took place and a file was submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service. "The CPS decided there was insufficient evidence to bring a prosecution."
    TCR
    MonstaThorn
  • number9
    number9 Posts: 440
    If the crash investigator finds holes in the driver's story then it would bad for the cops, though perhaps better for cyclists in the future.
  • Keiron Curtis
    Keiron Curtis Posts: 126
    Rather unfair to call it police apathy. The police are under so much pressure that they are unable to do their jobs properly, that is a fact, the government knows it, and we know it. The problem is nobody will do anything about it. The government won't provide enough money , manpower or the correct laws that would actually allow the police to do their job correctly, while we the public, generally take the view, "I'm alright Jack", unless, that is, we are directly affected. Sad but true, we are on the brink of a lawless society, while the liberal do-gooders exist on another planet.
    k.curtis

Categories