Latest news with #Laionie
BBC News
11-02-2025
- BBC News
Dorset crash victim Laionie Kennard's mum: 'I want justice'
The mother of a teenager killed in a crash on a rural road in Dorset said she has been denied justice for her Laionie Kennard died in 2023 when the car she was a passenger in left Hurn Road between Matchams and driver, 20-year-old Joseph Pickett from Lyneham in Wiltshire, was given a 10-month suspended sentence last month at Poole Magistrates' parents are frustrated evidence they had from her phone was not allowed to be used in court. Accident investigators showed Pickett's car was travelling between 43 and 54mph - the area where the crash happened has a limit of Kelly Kennard was able to track her daughter's journey via an app, used by many parents of teenagers, called Life the crash, she purchased the extended information, which she said showed Laionie travelling at speeds of up to 80mph on the evening of the crash. That could be considered dangerous driving, but Pickett was prosecuted for careless driving, which carries a much lesser court, Mrs Kennard said she was told the app was not reliable for evidence purposes. She said: "Laionie has lost her whole life, her dreams, all her plans taken away, our lives are ruined. "He should have a custodial sentence, for him to be able to go back to his job in the army, it's a joke, it's not right." Dorset Police has said the Life 360 data was submitted along with the Forensic Collision Report to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).The CPS has been approached for comment, but in a letter to the Kennard family, it said the defendant's standard of driving was "just below" the threshold for dangerous driving. It said Pickett's early guilty plea and previous good character was taken into account for Kennard is now delivering stickers to shops in the Verwood area to raise awareness of her "justice for Laionie" has joined other bereaved parents from the RoadPeace campaign calling for tougher sentences for those who cause a death on the road and lifetime driving bans for those convicted. You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Yahoo
Mother of teenager killed by speeding soldier feels ‘let down by system' after driver spared jail
The mother of a young woman killed in a crash by a soldier who was speeding has said she feels 'let down by the justice system' after he was spared jail. Laionie Kennard, 18, died after Joseph Pickett's BMW left a 40mph country road at a bend and crashed into trees in Sept 2023. Pickett, now 20, was spared jail after admitting to causing her death by careless driving. Laionie's mother Kelly Kennard criticised the justice system, saying she feels 'let down' by the soldier being given only a suspended sentence for causing her daughter's death. Poole magistrates' court was told that Dorset Police crash investigators found Pickett was travelling between 43mph to 54mph at the time of the crash. The car left the road at a bend and crashed into trees. After the crash, Ms Kennard got a call from a parent of one of the other young people in the car who had been sent an SOS alert from the Life360 tracking app that there had been an accident. Mrs Kennard and husband Dave raced to the scene minutes from their home in Verwood, Dorset, to find a police cordon. Laionie died at the scene. On the night of the crash, Pickett had taken a group of friends including Laionie from girlfriend Edy Herridge's house in Ringwood, Dorset, to a McDonald's four miles away. Pickett told police he thought the road was covered by the national speed limit – 60mph – but the court heard he had ignored eight 40mph signs and six road markings that either said '40' or 'slow'. Mrs Kennard, 40, said: 'Laionie sent me a message saying he was driving his car too fast. I replied saying just be careful. She was going to stay at Edy's house that night so I presumed as soon as they were there she would be safe. 'I knew straight away in my gut [after getting the call from the other parent] that something was very wrong. I felt sick and just panicked. 'The crash scene was a five-minute drive from us. We went to the scene not knowing what we were going to walk into. I wouldn't wish that feeling on anybody. 'I really feel like we have been let down.' Mrs Kennard has joined Forget-me-not Families Uniting, a group of bereaved parents whose children were all killed in crashes involving young drivers, and who are campaigning for graduated driving licensing. They are calling on the Government to look at steps that would reduce deaths and serious injuries by restricting the number of passengers young drivers can carry, and limiting night-time driving. She added: 'I will do whatever I can to help other families. I do believe strongly in graduated driving licensing. I do believe if we had it in this country Laionie would still be alive.' Pickett, a craftsman with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME), was given a 10-month sentence suspended for two years, ordered to carry out 250 hours of unpaid work, and banned from driving for two years. Dorset police have been approached for comment. The CPS declined to comment. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- Yahoo
Suspended term for driver who caused fatal crash
A driver who admitted causing the death of an 18-year-old woman in a crash in Dorset has been handed a suspended sentence. Laionie Kennard, from Verwood, died when a BMW driven by Joseph Pickett, left the road near Ringwood on 16 September 2023. Picket, 20, from Lyneham in Wiltshire, previously admitted causing death by careless or inconsiderate driving. He was sentenced to 10 months imprisonment, suspended for 24 months, and must complete 250 hours of unpaid work. Picket, who appeared before Poole magistrates on Wednesday, was also disqualified from driving for two years, after which he must take an extended re-test, and was fined £232. Dorset Police said Laionie had been one of three passengers in the blue BMW 1 Series, driven by Pickett, in Hurn Road, between Ringwood and Matchams at 21:30 BST on Saturday 16 September 2023. Officers said the car failed to negotiate a bend, left the road and crashed into trees. Ms Kennard died at the scene. An investigation by the Serious Collision Investigation Team indicated Pickett was driving at between 43mph and 54mph on the 30mph road as he entered the bend. PC Leanne Howes said: "Our thoughts are absolutely with Laionie's family and loved ones and nothing will ever make up for their tragic loss. "This case must serve as another harrowing reminder of the truly devastating consequences that can result from driving without due care and at excessive speed, particularly at night when you have passengers in your vehicle. "I can only hope that this awful incident makes others stop and think before they get behind the wheel and reminds them of the vital importance of driving in a safe and considerate manner." You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Tribute to 'kind and caring' teen killed in crash Three people released after teen dies in crash Woman,18, killed and three others injured in crash H M Courts & Tribunals Service
BBC News
30-01-2025
- BBC News
Suspended jail term for driver who caused fatal crash
A driver who admitted causing the death of an 18-year-old woman in a crash in Dorset has been handed a suspended Kennard, from Verwood, died when a BMW driven by Joseph Pickett, left the road near Ringwood on 16 September 20, from Lyneham in Wiltshire, previously admitted causing death by careless or inconsiderate was sentenced to 10 months imprisonment, suspended for 24 months, and must complete 250 hours of unpaid work. Picket, who appeared before Poole magistrates on Wednesday, was also disqualified from driving for two years, after which he must take an extended re-test, and was fined £ Police said Laionie had been one of three passengers in the blue BMW 1 Series, driven by Pickett, in Hurn Road, between Ringwood and Matchams at 21:30 BST on Saturday 16 September said the car failed to negotiate a bend, left the road and crashed into trees. Ms Kennard died at the investigation by the Serious Collision Investigation Team indicated Pickett was driving at between 43mph and 54mph on the 30mph road as he entered the Leanne Howes said: "Our thoughts are absolutely with Laionie's family and loved ones and nothing will ever make up for their tragic loss."This case must serve as another harrowing reminder of the truly devastating consequences that can result from driving without due care and at excessive speed, particularly at night when you have passengers in your vehicle."I can only hope that this awful incident makes others stop and think before they get behind the wheel and reminds them of the vital importance of driving in a safe and considerate manner." You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
