Brothers aged 2 and 6 killed after Coventry hit-and-run

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Re: Brothers aged 2 and 6 killed after Coventry hit-and-run

Postby dutchman » Fri Apr 27, 2018 8:11 pm

Disqualified hit-and-run driver high on cocaine jailed for nine years

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A disqualified driver who was high on cocaine when he hit and killed two young brothers in Coventry has been jailed for nine years.

Robert Brown, 53, of Attwood Crescent, Wyken, was sentenced at Warwick Crown Court today after pleading guilty to causing the deaths of of Corey and Casper Platt-May in Longfellow Road, Stoke, on February 22.

His partner and co-defendant, Gwendoline Harrison, 41, of Triumph Close, Wyken, had a charge of causing the death of six-year-old Corey and Casper, two, dropped at the last court hearing.

She instead pleaded guilty to assault with intent to resist arrest, and was jailed for six months.

Rachel Brand, prosecuting, said Brown had never passed a driving test or held a valid licence but had driven since he was a teenager.

He had been convicted of driving while disqualified on 30 previous occasions.

Miss Brand described CCTV footage from the incident as "extremely distressing".

The court heard witnesses estimated the speed of Brown's Ford Focus at 60 to 70mph and that he was “driving like a mad man”.

Miss Brand said the family had been looking left and right before attempting to cross the road on their way to the park and, according to a passing cyclist, “did everything right”.

Two men who were working on a bus shelter nearby heard women and children screaming, and tyres screeching.

Miss Brand said one of them stopped Brown as he tried to flee the scene, while Harrison assaulted a bystander with a plastic bag filled with beer.

The pair were later found by police hiding behind a garden shed in Macdonald Road.

When they were at the police station they were four times over the legal drug-drive limit for cocaine.

The court heart that Brown had only been released from prison for driving offences six days before the horrific crash.

Brown was sentenced to nine years in prison for each count of death by dangerous driving, to run concurrently.

He was sentenced to a further four years for driving while disqualified, also to run concurrently, and has been disqualified for driving for 10 years and six months following his release.

Harrison was disqualified from driving for 27 months.

The prosecution entered no evidence for her on a charge of perverting the course of justice - which had related to her not telling the truth about the driver of the car - and two previous charges of causing the deaths of the boys by dangerous driving were dropped at the last court hearing.

Addressing Brown, the judge said: "Your selfish and reckless driving have torn this family apart."

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Re: Brothers aged 2 and 6 killed after Coventry hit-and-run

Postby rebbonk » Fri Apr 27, 2018 8:13 pm

All things considered I think he got off quite lightly.
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Re: Brothers aged 2 and 6 killed after Coventry hit-and-run

Postby dutchman » Fri Apr 27, 2018 8:22 pm

Judge Andrew Lockhart QC praised the family's dignity and bravery and said Brown "would have to face the terrible effects of his actions for the rest of his life."


He won't, they will! :fuming:
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Re: Brothers aged 2 and 6 killed after Coventry hit-and-run

Postby dutchman » Tue May 01, 2018 4:44 pm

Call for 'lenient' Coventry hit-and-run sentence review

The government's top legal advisor has been asked to consider whether the sentence of a driver who killed two boys while on cocaine is too lenient.

Brothers Corey and Casper Platt-May - aged six and two - died when they were hit by a car in Coventry in February.

Robert Brown, 53, of Attwood Crescent in Wyken, Warwickshire, admitted two counts of causing death by dangerous driving.

On Friday, he was sentenced to nine years in prison.

The request to the Attorney General's office asks for the matter to be considered under the unduly lenient sentence scheme.

The office will also be looking into the case of Gwendoline Harrison, 42, of Triumph Close, Wyken.

A passenger in the car, Harrison was sentenced to six months' imprisonment after admitting a charge of assault intending to resist arrest and trying to leave the scene when she "knew two children lay dying".

The Law Officers have 28 days from sentencing to consider the case.

The road safety charity Brake has previously described the sentence as an "injustice" and said it felt it was "too lenient".

:bbc_news:
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Re: Brothers aged 2 and 6 killed after Coventry hit-and-run

Postby dutchman » Thu May 17, 2018 7:55 pm

Father found dead in Greece hotel

The father of two boys killed in a hit-and-run crash in Coventry has been found dead in a hotel in Greece.

Reece Platt-May's body was discovered on the island of Corfu in the early hours of Thursday. His death is not being treated as suspicious.

Casper Platt-May, two, and his brother Corey, six, were struck while on their way to a park by a speeding driver high on cocaine in February.

Robert Brown, 53, was jailed for nine years last month.

In a statement, West Midlands Police said: "Mr Platt-May was found dead in a hotel room in Corfu, Greece, during the early hours of Thursday 17 May.

"His death is not being treated as suspicious.

"His family has been notified and the matter will be passed to the coroner.

"Our condolences go to the family who have asked for the media to respect their privacy at this difficult time."

Warwick Crown Court heard Brown had 30 previous convictions for driving without a licence or insurance.

:bbc_news:
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Re: Brothers aged 2 and 6 killed after Coventry hit-and-run

Postby rebbonk » Thu May 17, 2018 8:29 pm

Very sad. I can't even begin to imagine what these two parents have gone through.
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Re: Brothers aged 2 and 6 killed after Coventry hit-and-run

Postby Melisandre » Thu May 17, 2018 10:48 pm

Such a tragedy for this family I feel for the remaining children.
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Re: Brothers aged 2 and 6 killed after Coventry hit-and-run

Postby dutchman » Wed May 30, 2018 2:39 pm

Sentence of Corey and Casper Platt-May killer Brown will go to Court of Appeal

THE NINE-YEAR sentence of Robert Brown – the man who killed young Coventry brothers Corey and Casper Platt-May in a road crash while high on cocaine – has been referred to the Court of Appeal.

Robert Brown was sentenced for causing the deaths of Corey and Casper Platt-May, aged six and two respectively – a charge to which he pleaded guilty.

Following the controversial decision, there were calls – including from Corey and Casper’s mother Louise and father Reece who recently died – for Brown to receive a life sentence.

An appeal was lodged to the Attorney General Jeremy Wright MP’s office for the case to be considered under the Unduly Lenient Sentence Scheme (ULS).

It has been confirmed today the case will now be taken to the Court of Appeal where the government’s senior legal advisers will consider the sentencing.

A spokesperson from the Solicitor General’s Office said: “After careful consideration, the Solicitor General referred the case of Robert Brown to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.

“We await a date for the hearing.”

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Re: Brothers aged 2 and 6 killed after Coventry hit-and-run

Postby dutchman » Thu May 31, 2018 3:56 pm

Death crash brothers' dad found hanged while on holiday, inquest heard

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Coventry dad Reece Platt-May was found hanged while on holiday in Greece with a friend, an inquest has heard.

His body was discovered in a hotel on the day he was set to return home from Kavos in Corfu.

The inquest in to his death was opened at Coventry Council House on Thursday, May 31.

Assistant coroner for Coventry, Simon Charlton, said: "This matter was referred to the coroner's office because of Mr Platt-May's death abroad."

Giving evidence at today's inquest opening, Det Sgt Catherine Bowler from West Midlands Police said: "Reece Platt-May recently lost two children who died following a road traffic collision in February.

"Reece was holidaying with a friend in Kavos and was due to return on May 17.

"West Midlands Police became aware of his death when family members told police they had received calls from Corfu."

Det Sgt Bowler says they contacted the British Consulate in Greece who confirmed Mr Platt-May's death.

She stated that Mr Platt-May, who lived in Hipswell Highway, Wyken, was found hanged and his death happened at around 2am on May 17.

The officer also said that "to date no suicide note has been traced".

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Re: Brothers aged 2 and 6 killed after Coventry hit-and-run

Postby Melisandre » Thu May 31, 2018 7:46 pm

So tragic I feel for his wife and children. Most hotels dont make it known as it would deter guests but most men commit suicide in hotel rooms especially in the USA .
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