Driver jailed over death crash

February 17, 2009

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The Statham family

A PORTUGUESE lorry driver was today jailed for three years for causing the deaths of a family of six.

David and Michelle Statham and their four children were driving home to North Wales when Paulo Jorge Nogueira da Silva's 40-tonne lorry smashed into their people carrier on the M6 at Sandbach, Cheshire, last October.

The couple died instantly at the scene along with sons Reece, 13, Jay, nine, and Mason, 20 months, and 10-week-old baby daughter Ellouise.

Passing sentence, trial judge Mr Justice Irwin jailed da Silva for three years on each count, telling the defendant he would serve 18 months in custody before being allowed out on licence.

Da Silva was also disqualified from driving for three years.

Mr Justice Irwin said: “This case arose from a terrible tragedy. Anyone who has heard the case could not help but have strong, indeed overwhelming, sympathy for the families of those who died, a whole family wiped out.”

The judge added: “The overwhelming aggravating feature of what happened is the number of those killed.”

The jury returned its guilty verdict after just over six hours of deliberation.

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Ace Shakespeare , manchester (16/02/2009 at 15:18)

Dosnt britain think that foreign drivers comming to britain should actually pass a test so that they know our laws and highway code.I dont think that some commercial drivers actually comply with our laws and just take for granted that they are beyound british laws because within hours they are on the ferry and on another continent.Its now time to crack down on computers/sat navs being used while driving? ive noticed that most sat navs are on the screen .i just listen to my sat nav.

Esso Blue promotions in association with Blue Firework The Arabian Blue Knight, , Summoned to the Bridge (16/02/2009 at 15:57)

If the man had kept his eyes on the road then this might not have happened. You have to concentrate at all times, people just don't listen.

My deepest sympathies to the families.

JTC Formerley JimC (16/02/2009 at 16:13)

Three years for wiping out a whole family. The law in this country is a complete ass. My god three years £X780NG hell. I am speechless.

TISS (16/02/2009 at 16:17)

hardly fair is it three years for a life and he's out in 18 month's it's time this government changed the law's, a whole familt wiped out and he serve's a mere 18 month's it's ok saying well people get out on licence and if they do wrong again they serve thr remainder but they still get to live thier lives while this family have no life and thier parents and grandparents are left with just memories and happy those memories may be but its not the same as having your family around you he will see his family again and probably watch his children grow up, the only consolation is that this family are still all together , my condolences to the thier family left behind,,,,R.I.P

Nemo (16/02/2009 at 17:45)

3 years ? they mights as well not have bothered ! maybe he has just got a new job in Ireland?

Rob Wilson (16/02/2009 at 18:25)

I am absolutely gobsmacked!

donald duck (16/02/2009 at 18:51)

look at the sentence they are passing out and then they wonder why there is so much of crime about. come on be real for once do you think this society is scared of these courts.build bigger jails lock em up longer then your crime rate will come down.should off took that mans licence off him he is a danger to be on the road.he wiped out a mans full family and he gets 3 yrs.lets see if any man from britian get that sentence in that country.

Frostee, Oldham (16/02/2009 at 19:41)

I don’t think the sentence is for the deaths of the family, no sentence could equate to that loss. While three years might be seen as too little it has to be put in context. This driver was extremely careless but not malevolent. He obviously did not do this on purpose and he has to live the deaths of those people for the rest of his life. He has also brought great misery to his own family. Now, before all you have hysterics consider this.

Hand on heart; have you always paid strict attention to the road at ALL times? Have you never ever been distracted? And let's consider the worse offenders of all whom can be seen every day on the roads – the mobile phone users. To those idiots I say reflect on this case because there by the grace of God go you. It is just as easy to mount the pavement in a small car and wipe out a family out walking because you are using a mobile phone, or perhaps lighting a cigarette, or turning your head to the rear, or messing about with the radio/CD, or gazing at a sat nav or advert etc. Beware before you throw the first stone.

Rob Wilson (16/02/2009 at 20:35)

The difference is, a car COULD kill. A lorry WILL kill! He shouldnt have been behind the wheel of a lorry. He shouldnt have been driving on uk roads. He should be behind bars. For alot longer!

Rob Wilson (16/02/2009 at 20:53)

yes, didnt think you would print the truth.

petewad2002, near traff center (17/02/2009 at 01:01)

mean while some prat smuugles a couple of million cigarettes in and deprives the revenue of a few hundred thousand and gets 2 years in side justice dont make me laugh you can kill and maim all you like but dont you dare try and take money off gordon and alister
wot a joke this so called justice system is

Jay B, oldham (17/02/2009 at 10:03)

so murder? manslaughter? what ever it is! his dangerous action killed six people! and he gets off lightly with this!

this country stinks! im fed up of it! no wonder its in the state its in!
he should be getting 3 years for every life he's snatched away!

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