ST PAUL'S CRAY: Five guilty of cyclist Graham Thwaites manslaughter (From News Shopper)
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ST PAUL'S CRAY: Five guilty of cyclist Graham Thwaites manslaughter
1:19pm Wednesday 16th June 2010 in News By Court reporter
FIVE men have been found guilty of manslaughter following the death of a cyclist in St Paul's Cray.
Andrew Carlisle, aged 35, of Horning Close, Mottingham, 24-year-old William Dennard, of Ridgeway, Darenth, and George Webb, aged 26, of Montbretia Close, St Paul's Cray, were found guilty by a jury today (June 16) after a trial at the Old Bailey.
David Cook, aged 24, of Lamberhurst Close, Orpington, and 23-year-old Shane Webb, of Osbourne Road, Dartford, were also found guilty of the manslaughter of 51-year-old Graham Thwaites, of Petersham Drive, St Paul's Cray.
Left to right, top to bottom: Andrew Carlisle, William Dennard, Shane Webb, George Webb, David Cook
The trial heard how father-of-two Mr Thwaites was knocked off his bicycle by a car in Leesons Hill, St Paul's Cray, on September 18, 2008, following a car chase involving the five defendants.
Carlisle was driving a Shogun while the other four were in a Vauxhall Vectra.
Dennard, Cook and the Webbs were trying to find Carlisle following a dispute over the sale of a Rottweiler puppy.
The court heard both cars were speeding at between 50 and 60mph in Leesons Hill, a two-lane road with a 30mph limit.
Mr Thwaites was in the centre of the road about to turn right into Highfield Road but did not make it across as he was hit by the Shogun.
He died in hospital later that night.
Detective Inspector Mark Cam, from the Met Police's road death investigation unit, said: "Mr Thwaites lost his life because Carlisle, Dennard, Cook and the Webbs were intent on airing their personal grievances out on a public road.
"They all drove dangerously, recklessly, above the speed limit and without any consideration for members of the public.
"This wasn't simply a case of bad driving, it was manslaughter and I am pleased with today's verdict. I hope it goes some small way to providing comfort to Mr Thwaites' family who have acted with great dignity throughout this investigation."
Hazel Thwaites, the widow of Mr Thwaites, said: "This senseless act of driving cost Graham his life, he is missed by all of his family and friends."
The men were all remanded in custody and to be sentenced on July 15.
Comments(12)
It's Me again !
says...
2:23pm Wed 16 Jun 10
ripnetuk wrote:I think there were 2 cars involved actually
Its sad that someone died, but im confused - how can 5 people be guilty of a manslaughter-by-car? ?? surely there was only one driver?
but yes it still doesn't make sense
DrDBexley
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2:29pm Wed 16 Jun 10
Simon Bull
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4:18pm Wed 16 Jun 10
Slonik
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9:14am Thu 17 Jun 10
ripnetuk
says...
10:34am Thu 17 Jun 10
jca111
says...
11:13am Thu 17 Jun 10
ripnetuk wrote:We have covered this before with the Angel Delight case, but read http://en.wikipedia.
I agree that manslaughter is appropriate for the one driver that hit the poor cyclist, or at most both drivers, so 2 of them can be guilty, but how the f can 5 people all be guilty of manslaughter??? the way a car works is that one person is in control, and the others are passengers. Unless its been demonstrated beyond reasonable doubt that the passengers were actively encouraging the 'race', it seems to be that the other passengers have been unfairly convicted... i guess they were all represented in court, so it seems i am misunderstanding the law...
org/wiki/Common_purp
ose
Its called Common Purpose, and in a nut-shell, as they were all taking part in the chase, and all did little, if anything to stop it, so they are all guilty of the crime in question.
This law has been around for a very long time, and is a good thing. As it would be very easy to load the blame on one individual, a scapegoat, when really they were all just a guilty in causing the situation that caused the crime, in this case an innocent cyclist being killed. Its not just about the one person who run him down.
mum2kids
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11:33am Thu 17 Jun 10
How many lives have been shattered because of their stupidity? I know they didn't set out to kill the man but what were they thinking, driving like maniacs on that road, chasing someone over a dog of all things.
Poor Mr Thwaites' family will never be free and will serve their sentence their whole lives. His children have been robbed of their dad. So sad.
ripnetuk
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12:15pm Thu 17 Jun 10
MB
says...
12:25pm Thu 17 Jun 10
The proposed lowering of the drink drinve limit is a very welcome step towards getting irresponsible people off our roads before they cause this kind of harm to others. The same princiuple should be applied to reckless driving to prevent more of these tragic accidents.
jca111
says...
12:31pm Thu 17 Jun 10
MB wrote:I agree! Harsher penalties for people on mobiles, speeding, reckless driving the lot.
These idiots should not have been behind the wheel in the first place. Their complete lack of judgement shows that they are not sufficiently in control of their actions to be allowed to do something potentially as dangerous as driving a car.
The proposed lowering of the drink drinve limit is a very welcome step towards getting irresponsible people off our roads before they cause this kind of harm to others. The same princiuple should be applied to reckless driving to prevent more of these tragic accidents.
Too many people speed thinking they will never have an accident. To many people on mobiles thinking the same. Its always someone else! Wrong - It could be you!
HA HA HA HA HA HA
says...
7:09pm Fri 18 Jun 10
ripnetuk says...
2:15pm Wed 16 Jun 10
?? surely there was only one driver?