Anger as death driver sentence cut

Last updated at 09:39 27 February 2004


An illegal immigrant whose uninsured car ran over and killed a nine-year-old boy had his sentence cut today.

Algerian Kamel Kadri, 38, fled the scene of the crash on the A259 at Sterring, West Sussex, on New Year's Day, leaving Callum Oakford dying at the side of the road.

Last week Kadri was sentenced to eight months in prison for motoring offences, including driving without insurance and failing to stop at the scene of an accident.

Judge: my hands are tied

But today Judge Anthony Thorpe, sitting at Chichester Crown Court, said that due to a "technicality" he was forced to reduce Kadri's sentence for the motoring offences by two months.

Kadri, who was also jailed last week for 16 months for using a false passport, will now spend a total of 22 months behind bars.

Judge Thorpe said: "My hands are tied. In the light of this technicality, which the public will find hard to comprehend, I have no choice but to reduce your sentence.

"I regard your sentence as no way commensurate to what you did. The results of your driving are being ignored by the courts. I again express my deepest sympathies to the family."

Disgust from family

Speaking outside court today, Callum's family said today's reduction of Kadri's sentence had made them even more determined to bring about a change in the law.

Callum's sister Kathryn Proudfoot said: "The whole family is disgusted, amazed and confused by the justice system. We feel very let down that there is no penalty for hitting a person and leaving them to die."

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