http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Sentencing Discrepancies en Sun, 31 May 2026 15:32:40 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3538#post-36976 Tue, 02 Aug 2011 17:35:01 +0000 crowriver 36976@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I make no pretence of legal expertise but think the issue here is that the 'assault' was in the Houses of Parliament, witnessed by a roomful of MPS, and broadcast live on the BBC. Example. Made of. Must be. </p> <p>The vast majority of cyclists' deaths from car driving are witnessed only by the killers themselves or their passengers. Police have to use forensic evidence, CCTV footage etc. all of which can be challenged by the defence. Then there are the charges that can be brought: is it 'reckless' or 'dangerous' driving? Was there negligence involved? How can that be proved? All these can be interpreted subjectively by the judge/sheriff, who is far more likely to be a driver than a cyclist... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3538#post-36974 Tue, 02 Aug 2011 17:22:46 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 36974@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Ah, but it's specifically <em>not</em> a court proceeding so a sentence for contempt of court would be different...</p> <p>It would definitely be interesting to compare sentencing. But would require some pretty intricate FOI request I would think. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3538#post-36971 Tue, 02 Aug 2011 17:10:24 +0000 steveo 36971@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>With out wanting to start and argument i'd like to see some research which compared sanctions for other similar offences out side of roads, for example a doctor causing death by negligence or intention. I'm curious to see for sure if road deaths and particularly cyclists are treated leniently or if it is just observational bias. I'm not really sure where to start looking though.</p> <p>On the topic, I think this is a fair sentence for a moron causing disruption to this kind of proceeding, although on a similar vain what would you expect for a contempt of court as serious as assaulting a witness/defendant? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3538#post-36966 Tue, 02 Aug 2011 17:00:30 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 36966@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Right, we've done the whole 'use a car if you want to kill a cyclist' thing. We all know that so many people who have negligently taken the life of someone have walked free with a minimal fine and (sometimes) a short ban...</p> <p>Well...</p> <p>Throw a plate of foam at a sleazy, dishonest, frankly creepy media moghul, and you get 6 weeks in jail... (oh, but he'll only serve 3 weeks)</p> <p><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-14370398" rel="nofollow">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-14370398</a> </p>