A heartbroken mother only found out that the jail sentence of her son's killer had been slashed when she read it in the M.E.N.
An investigation has been launched after Tracey Cowley discovered in the paper that Andrew Whalley, who ran over her son Mark, had successfully had his term cut by over a quarter.
Whalley, 37, was locked up in November last year after admitting causing Mark's death by dangerous driving.
He mounted the pavement in Stalybridge town centre and hit the father-of-one after a row over debts.
But judges at London's Appeal Court cut his term from eight years to five-and-a-half last month.
And Miss Cowley, 46, says she was left 'stunned' when she found out about the reduction in the paper.
She has launched a blistering attack on the authorities for not notifying her in advance that Whalley was to make an appeal.
Disgusting
“It's disgusting,” she said. “Absolutely disgusting. I heard nothing from the CPS and nothing from the Probation Service or Family Liaison officer. I came home from work and there it was in the paper.”
Whalley went looking Mark and his father. They had earlier smashed windows at Whalley's house after a row over money.
He hit Mark at the junction of Booth Close and Hollins Street and, as he lay dying, assaulted his father.
Whalley's sentence was reduced after the court accepted a glass thrown at his car had distracted him.
Miss Cowley said she was 'disgusted' with what happened and called for action.
She added: “If I'd have known I would have been there to argue against it.
“We accepted the sentence at the time, but five-and-a-half years is not enough.
“Someone, somewhere has not done what they should have done and they should be held responsible. To find out like this is not right.”
A CPS spokesman said they were not given a date for the hearing by the Court of Appeal and added that had they done so they would have appeared themselves.
He said: “It is standard procedure in these cases for the Court of Appeal to formally notify the relevant prosecuting authority of a defendant’s intention to lodge an appeal. We would then liaise with victims and witnesses.
“Unfortunately, whilst we received notice that Mr Whalley was intending to appeal, we did not receive the standard follow-up information detailing the date and time of that appeal.
“We are currently making inquiries with the Court of Appeal as to why this was the case. We will then notify Ms Cowley immediately.”
“Whenever, there is an appeal in a case involving a fatality, and where the family will be attending the hearing, the CPS considers it to be of the utmost importance that the Crown be represented at that hearing.”
No comment was given by the Court of Appeal.
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Just shows you that the rights and interests of victims are not uppermost in their minds. It stinks.
From the way the case is written iut would appear to have been murder, not causing death by dangerous driving. The only thing is that he used a car as the weapon. Very lucky man to have got any reduction when an increase would have been more appropriate
What do people expect when the UK 'justice' system has been hijacked for the benefit of greedy lawyers? Looking at this objectively they are the only ones who would possibly benefit from doing this because it's a fair bet that anyone who would run some one over & kill them over a debt would offend again once released, and therefore generate more fees once caught.
Until the corruption of the legal system is tackled we will have problems with re offending, and reform means keeping the lawyers at arms length. With a parliament stuffed full of lawyers I don't really think that's likely.
victims of crime are the guilty ones these days, joke country with a joke judicial system!!!!
I agree with PW, the victims family were not even informed, they don't care about the victims, I'd like to know just in case the psycho came looking for me for giving evidence against him or something.
And why was he committed on dangerous driving, when he deliberately used a lethal weapon to harm someone, it should have been murder or at the very least manslaughter.
The only serious crime considered by the courts these days is failure to pay your council tax or TV licence. This is just one more example of many daily instances of out inept justice system.
We will prob end up with a hung parliment. Because none of the mainstream parties have the bottle to say enough is enough.
We need a complete clear out from Top Police Officers, Judges and the CPS. But sadly we are never going to get that with the current crop of politicians, becuase those I have mentioned are an reflecton of what we have got.
Just how much is Human life worth!The system stinks to high heaven!
Insist on ELECTED judges and magistrates NOW! Let the people decide.
As I have said many, many, many, many times this is all about "revolving doors", the legal system is corrupt. The judges, barristers, solicitors and law lords want to not just stay in bussiness they want that bussiness again and again and again and again. Greed rules Ok
im suprised he went to jail at all with the way the law is about car crimes....then he would have got some do-gooder lawyer who would have said my client has had a difficult upbringing....his distant great cousin died 24 years ago and it upset him gime him another chance........its laughable
James Yates: "Insist on ELECTED judges and magistrates NOW! Let the people decide."
No, it's a terrible idea.
As has been pointed out numerous times, anybody can apply to be a magistrate, so if you're so unhappy with the current situation, step up to the plate and do the job yourself.
I had a similar story i got beaten up by a guy on a night out and he was sentenced to 9 months in prison, 4 months later i read in the paper that he had the sentence reduced to 3 months after winning an appeal and was out back on the streets, about 2 wks later i received a letter telling me about it.
There are always reasons behind the judges decisions but we never get to read them with the articles or would this just get in the way of 'journalism'.
James Yates - what a scary idea, elected Judges. One could only guess at the amount of corruption that would generate. It's bad enough now!!
You only have to look to USA to see that.
And why should the mother be told? Victims & their families don't matter. How can an appeal hearing go ahead if the Crown isn't represented? The victim's family should be allowed to appeal against the reduction.