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Justice (Lonpicman, Wikimedia Commons)Man sentenced to seven years over fatal cyclist hit-and-run
A man has been sentenced to seven years in prison today after admitting killing a cyclist in a hit-and-run collision on New Year’s Day 2015.
Luke Headech, 24, from Bexhill, was charged after admitting causing death by dangerous driving in a fatal hit-and-run in St Leonards at 4am on New Year’s Day 2015, in which 23-year-old Jamie Murray lost his life. Headech denied a charge of causing death by careless driving while over the drink drive limit, earlier this week.
Headech and his father were filmed in an altercation with a BBC journalist outside Lewes Crown Court this morning, where Headech appeared at a special court hearing.
Luke Headech from #Bexhill (in black shirt) sentenced to 7 years after admitting running over and killing a cyclist. pic.twitter.com/tqDhHPZoU2
— BBC South East (@bbcsoutheast) May 5, 2016
In the clip Headech’s father attempts to cover up a camera using his coat. When the journalist says "that's assault" and tries to bat away the coat Headech yells at the journalist: “Stop touching my old man, I swear to God”.
At a previous hearing Headach admitted failing to stop at the scene of a crash and attempting to pervert the course of justice.
Laura Laker is a freelance journalist with more than a decade’s experience covering cycling, walking and wheeling (and other means of transport). Beginning her career with road.cc, Laura has also written for national and specialist titles of all stripes. One part of the popular Streets Ahead podcast, she sometimes appears as a talking head on TV and radio, and in real life at conferences and festivals. She is also the author of Potholes and Pavements: a Bumpy Ride on Britain’s National Cycle Network.
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19 comments
I wouldnt be suprised if his Lawyer didn't try that hard ...... as some lawyer's do have harts
and some Lawyers also dont like there 'clients'
Lets hope he 'enjoys' the showers
Dad seems a decent role model
Hopefully someone will wind him up and there will be no early release for good behaviour. He lied to try and get away with his criminal act, it should be a longer sentence, nasty piece of work deserves everything prison has to offer.
You really would think that drinking whilst driving, hitting and killing someone, fleeing the scence of a crash and then lying about it, should compound the sentence.
Lets hope his behavour in prison is as good as his outside the courthouse, and he serves the full sentence.
Must have had a crap lawyer. As others have pointed out, there are well respected infallible excuses for running over a cyclist; sun in eyes, cyclist wasn't paying attention, cyclist wasn't wearing a helmet, etc, etc. Any of which would have had all charges dismissed and gained him the sympathy of the court.
Hyperbole is great. Thing is much of that was in the case, certainly the defence pointed out hte lack of helmet and high vis etc though it's not clear on what basis (plea or guilt). His crap lawyer had very little choice here as the evidence was overwhelming. Indeed it's a guilty plea not a conviction by jury. So a lot of the similar cases have little or no bearing.
5 year driving ban to commence only on release. Seems reasonable though I'd personally like it to be minimum of 10 years disqualification or life time. The only problem I have with disqualification is, how many people, especially ones who appear as pleasant as the culprit & his father, actually take any notice and drive while "banned" & uninsured? Disqualification from driving should carry an immediate custodial sentence for anyone found driving during their exemption. And this should be spelled out to them in a foot high font at the time of conviction so there is no get out by ignorance.
And he comes across so nice in the clip.
Acts all tough outside, but wait until he is behind bars. Bet he'll be a little pussy cat inside...
Yep he wont be so tough when his asshole is the size of a jam jar.
A dangerous driving conviction is a rare thing indeed.
If he'd stay at the scene and mumbled something about the sun being in his eye a bit, or he was tidying up his car at the time I'm sure the jury would have given him the benefit of the doubt.
Having said that it sounds like he would have been looking at a drinking drinking conviction if he had stayed at the seen.
What worse a dangerous driving conviction or a drunk driving conviction ?
No mention of a Ban? Anyway Please sign this Petiton, lets get the law changed so that Killing someone whilst driving means a lifetime ban. A licence is a Privilage, not a Right.
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/128648
signed
More details here: http://www.sussex.police.uk/news/driver-jailed-for-death-of-cyclist-in-s...
Looks like he had the audacity to claim his car was stolen and it must have been the thief driving... then when that was proved wrong he claimed that he had a drink after the collision not before.
I get the lenient sentencing (dont agree but understand they operate to the limits of the law), I just dont get the perverting justice thing. Sun in my eyes, bike weaving all over the shop, stolen car etc etc.
If you're lying it should just compound the outcome and make it worse, otherwise you might as well run people over and claim you were on the Costa Del Sol at the time. Worth a go.
Probably a celebratory tin of stella!
Divided by two of course is three years actual time and whatever he gets off for good behaviour.
One and a half to two years for killing someone.
I have the worst neighbours, might have to get the car keys.
Three and a half is the minimum including 'good behaviour' , doesn't look like he's capable of much of that...
Surprise result! Congratulations. Now these sort of sentences need to be applied more universally. Though it would be interesting to see why this sentence was applied when so many others are dealt with so leniently.
two reasons
hit and run
drunk...