Sentence reduced for driver who caused baby's death outside Withybush Hospital

Pembrokeshire Herald

4 hours ago

A WOMAN who caused the death of an eight-month-old baby outside Withybush Hospital has had her sentence reduced following an appeal.
Bridget Curtis, aged 71, was originally sentenced to four years in prison in January for causing the death of Mabli Cariad Hall by dangerous driving. Curtis was also disqualified from driving for eight years.
Bridget Curtis leaves court (Pic: BBC)
The tragic incident took place on June 21, 2023, when Mabli was struck by a white BMW driven by Curtis, who had been at the hospital attending an outpatient appointment with her daughter.
The court heard that Curtis had stopped the vehicle outside the hospital building. While attempting to help her daughter retrieve a handbag from the back of the car, Curtis inadvertently pressed the accelerator while the car was still running and not in park mode, causing the vehicle to accelerate rapidly to a speed of 29mph.
The car following the accident at Withybush General Hospital, Haverfordwest (Pic: Martin Cavaney/Herald)
The car struck Mabli, who was in a pram with her father, Robert Hall, and his brother, Stephen. Mabli was airlifted initially to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff before being transferred to Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, where she died from severe traumatic brain injuries four days later.
During the initial sentencing at Swansea Crown Court, Mabli's family expressed profound grief, describing life without her as 'horrendous.' Her mother, Gwen Hall, poignantly spoke of Mabli as 'so bright, so beautiful, so full of love and life.'
Curtis, who had held a clean driving licence for over 50 years and had no previous convictions, appeared via video link from HMP Eastwood Park in Gloucestershire for her appeal. Her barrister, John Dye, argued the incident was the result of a 'lapse of concentration,' describing Curtis as 'absolutely devastated.'
On Tuesday, three judges at the Court of Appeal ruled Curtis' original sentence was 'manifestly excessive,' reducing it to three years, with a seven-and-a-half-year driving ban.
In response, Mabli's family expressed disappointment in the sentence reduction but acknowledged the court's decision to uphold the custodial sentence.
'We still face a life sentence without her,' they said in a statement. 'We again thank everyone who has supported us and helped ensure justice for Mabli Cariad.'