Father ‘forgives’ hit-and-run driver who killed his son
The father of a seven-year-old boy who was hit by a van and left dying in the road “like an animal” said that he “forgives” the driver, as he was spared jail.
William Brown[1] was pronounced dead at the scene on the A259 Sandgate Esplanade in Folkestone, Kent, after he was struck by Stewart Powell[2]’s grey Peugeot van while crossing the road on Dec 6 last year.
The driver saw William lying in the road after hitting him with his van but left the scene, Folkestone magistrates’ court heard.
Julie Farbrace, prosecuting, said Powell, 49, had driven a short distance after the collision and saw CPR being carried out on William as he lay in the carriageway, but fled the scene because he “panicked”.
Stewart Powell, who was given a suspended sentence, said the ‘whole thing just stressed me out’
Credit: Gareth Fuller/PA
Powell called 999 the following day, telling officers “the whole f—— thing just stressed me out” as he described how William had run out in front of him.
The father of two appeared emotional as William’s parents read statements in court on the loss of their son.
William’s father, William Brown Snr, said: “It was cowardly not to stop and keep driving, Stewart.”
William Brown Snr said that the accident ‘could have happened to anyone’
Credit: Gareth Fuller/PA
But he said: “I know William would forgive Stewart… I forgive you, Stewart, I give your family peace and restoration.”
He added that his son should not have been in the road, and that the accident “could have happened to anyone”, adding: “I hope we can all consider road safety a priority moving forward… so William’s life is not wasted.”
However, Laura Brown, William’s mother, criticised Powell for leaving her son in the road “like an animal” and said he “deserved better”.
She said: “Stewart stood watching the catastrophic incident unfold. He made a conscious decision to get back into his van and leave him.
“That behaviour is simply inhumane. We had to deal with the hammer blow someone hit him and left the scene.”
Laura Brown, Williams’s mother, said Powell’s ‘behaviour was inhumane’
Credit: Gareth Fuller/PA
She added: “The not knowing who killed William tortured my mind. I was begging the van driver to come forward. Stewart’s actions prolonged suffering we were already enduring.”
Adrienne Wright, mitigating, said that the incident was out of character for Powell and his fleeing was “sheer panic” at not being able to handle what was going on in front of his eyes.
“Not a moment passes that he does not regret his decision,” she said.
Sentencing Powell, District Judge Claire Loxford said: “Your punishment will go far beyond the sentence I impose on you this morning.
“By leaving the scene you denied police the opportunity to investigate other offences, having accepted being a cannabis user at the time, and having used cannabis that day.”
Powell, of St Mary’s Bay, who pleaded guilty to failing to stop at the scene of the accident and driving without valid insurance, was sentenced to 14 weeks’ imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, and a curfew.
References
- ^ William Brown (www.telegraph.co.uk)
- ^ Stewart Powell (www.telegraph.co.uk)