...By Joseph Benjamin for TDPel Media.
Auriol Grey, whose actions resulted in the death of a cyclist after a verbal altercation, has been unsuccessful in her appeal against her prison sentence.
CCTV footage captured Grey shouting and gesturing at retired midwife Celia Ward in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, causing her to fall into the road.
Fatal Incident and Trial Outcome
Following the incident, Mrs. Ward, aged 77 and residing in Wyton, Cambridgeshire, was struck by a car on October 20, 2020, and tragically lost her life.
Grey, who suffers from cerebral palsy, denied manslaughter but was found guilty after a retrial at Peterborough Crown Court.
Dismissal of Appeal and Arguments Presented
Grey, who has cerebral palsy and partial blindness, appealed the three-year prison sentence.
However, the Court of Appeal judges rejected her application for leave to appeal.
Grey’s representative, Miranda Moore KC, argued that the sentence was “excessive” and highlighted the impact of her client’s medical condition, including a potential autism diagnosis from a family-funded report.
Judges’ Ruling and Sentencing Justification
The appeal judges determined that the collision between Mrs. Ward and Grey resulted from the latter’s actions and concluded that the original sentence was not deemed “arguably manifestly excessive.”
During the trial, the judge emphasized that Grey’s disability did not explain her actions.
He further noted that Grey did not have any mental disorders or learning difficulties and highlighted the width of the pavement, measuring 2.4 meters, describing it as a “shared path on the ring road.”
Lack of Remorse and Future Risk Assessment
The judge also highlighted Grey’s lack of remorse until the pre-sentencing notes, acknowledging the challenges she would face during and after custody.
Despite Grey being described as “childlike” in a probation report, it was determined that she does not pose an ongoing risk to the community.
