Desreen was killed by an elderly driver. Now her husband shares his grief at losing the love of his life.
The 85-year-old driver who killed my wife, Desreen, was jailed on 22 December 2014 for 18 months for causing her death by dangerous driving. He was also banned from driving for life. I suspect he, his family and friends are feeling really quite dreadful right now, and, for what it’s worth, mine aren’t exactly celebrating either.
You see, I’ve had time to think since attending the trial and I’ve realised that you can punish a crime but you can’t transfer pain. Any suffering caused to the defendant as a result of his sentencing could in no way take away mine. I’ve since learned that, having suffered so much myself, I genuinely wish no hurt on any other person and I never wished a prison sentence on the driver, either.
In fact, I wasn’t even going to mention the sentencing on my blog at all. But then I reminded myself that justice for Desreen is best served not by a prison sentence but by trying to prevent similar unnecessary deaths from happening again in future. I keep hearing people say that they know someone who should probably give up driving, but that they don’t know how to raise the issue with them. Well maybe I can help with that.
Read more: He crashed his car, killing his wife and son. Police are investigating whether it was an accident.
Tell them that the judge who sentenced the driver said, “An elderly driver who knows, or should acknowledge, that he or she is losing his or her faculties is no less a danger than a drunken driver who knows the same.”
Tell them that the judge also explained that the defendant’s “lifetime of blameless driving is of no comfort to the Brooks-Dutton family,” (and I assure you it really isn’t).
Tell them that the detective sergeant in charge of the prosecution said, “It is important for motorists to regularly monitor their driver behaviour and that of their elderly relatives to ensure that the roads are safe for all road users.”