[MTVN]

A "territorial" pedestrian whose actions killed a 77-year-old cyclist when she was angered by her being on the pavement has been jailed.

Auriol Grey, 49, shouted an expletive and gestured in an "aggressive way" towards Celia Ward, who fell into the path of a car in Huntingdon in 2020.

Peterborough Crown Court heard Grey "resented" the presence of the cyclist.

Grey, of Bradbury Place, Huntingdon, was jailed for three years after being convicted of manslaughter.

A trial heard the women passed each other in opposite directions on the pavement of the Cambridgeshire town's ring road, during the afternoon of 20 October.

The incident was captured on CCTV which included sound, and Grey could be heard shouting at Mrs Ward to "get off the [expletive] pavement".

Prosecutors said the defendant was "angered by the presence of a cyclist on a footpath" and gestured towards Mrs Ward, who fell into the path of a car.

Jurors heard the vehicle had "no chance to stop or take avoiding action" and Mrs Ward was pronounced dead at the scene.

Grey left prior to emergency services arriving and went to Sainsbury's where she bought groceries.

'Needless and senseless'
The trial was told that police could not "categorically" state whether the pavement was a shared cycleway.

Cambridgeshire County Council subsequently reiterated that and said it would review the location, but in his sentencing remarks Judge Sean Enright said it was a shared cycleway.

Sentencing Grey, Judge Enright said she was "territorial about the pavement" and "resented" the cyclist being there.

The trial heard Grey had cerebral palsy and was partially sighted, but the judge said: "These actions are not explained by disability."

He said that she had given a "dishonest account in interview" and there was "not a word about remorse until today".

Judge Enright added that "consideration of other road users is the lesson of this tragic case".

Full story: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-englan...shire-64824436

Tragic for the cyclist and the woman certainly sounds very unpleasant but is she really responsible for manslaughter? It's bizarre that the police can't state for sure whether it was a shared cycleway but it looks pretty narrow from the video. I don't think someone should be sentenced as responsible for another person's death for swearing at them and gesturing

[Alf]

It sounds a bit harsh to me.

[Niamh.]

Yeah it's a tough one, the woman was as you say aggressive and nasty but cyclists aren't supposed to be on the pavement either. It's a tough call, it doesn't look like there was any section of the pavement allocated to cyclists but the poor woman was right out on the edge and cycling pretty slow

[Crimson Dynamo]

Baffling decision

jail time?

[bots]

Seems like she was jailed for being unpleasant AND going to Sainsbury's, an unacceptable combination

[arista]

While That Reporter on the Link
Spoke, a Bike was also on the Pavement

So are bikes permitted on that pavement
is it shared?

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by arista

While That Reporter on the Link
Spoke, a Bike was also on the Pavement

So are bikes permitted on that pavement
is it shared?

It doesn't look like it from the video but I don't know

[Crimson Dynamo]

In the BBC video as the reporter is speaking a guy on a bike at speed whizzes past her on the path?

[arista]

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet

In the BBC video as the reporter is speaking a guy on a bike at speed whizzes past her on the path?

Yes,
he goes fast past her,

But it would need a white line down it
So each has a side

[MTVN]

^ Yeah I thought that was quite ironic

It's obviously a very busy road so probably should have a cycle lane but that pavement doesn't look suitable to be one. If the police can't establish whether it's a shared cycleway or not then you can't expect pedestrians to know. As the woman is disabled and partly sighted that would also make her more agitated at seeing a cyclist coming towards her

No excuse for pissing straight off to Sainsburys though

[Jordan.]

Deserved longer. I highly doubt a 77 year old woman was driving manically on the pavement.

[arista]

Originally Posted by Jordan.

Deserved longer. I highly doubt a 77 year old woman was driving manically on the pavement.

Yes, she was scared
of the Angry lady
so Turned Fast into the road.
Without looking - Just Like Presenter Dan Walker.


Better to get off your bike

[Beso]

Looked to me like the old lady wasnt fit enough to ride a bike.

[arista]

Originally Posted by parmnion

Looked to me like the old lady wasn't fit enough to ride a bike.

She was, but did not expect that Big Angry Women
getting her off the safe pavement

She was in a Panic, then turned fast into the road
(Her big error, not checking the traffic)


Best thing to do would have been to get off
the Bike walk past the angry lady
then get back on it.

[thesheriff443]

The woman being sentenced was partially sighted
On average 17 people a year in the uk get killed by being hit by a push bike
The person driving the car should take some of the blame because around the time of covid people were always stepping in the road to avoid another person walking on the path.

And why I’m saying about the driver is this, if an idiot slams on his brakes in front of you, and you hit him, it’s you that’s in the eyes of the law to blame

This is a sick decision in my opinion.

[arista]

Originally Posted by thesheriff443

The woman being sentenced was partially sighted
On average 17 people a year in the uk get killed by being hit by a push bike
The person driving the car should take some of the blame because around the time of covid people were always stepping in the road to avoid another person walking on the path.

And why I’m saying about the driver is this, if an idiot slams on his brakes in front of you, and you hit him, it’s you that’s in the eyes of the law to blame

This is a sick decision in my opinion.

No way
that Lady on her Bike turned very fast into the Road
Without Looking First



No way is the car driver wrong

[rusticgal]

Very tragic for the elderly lady and the Driver of the car. One is dead and the other scared for life.
Isnt it against the law for an adult to cycle on the pavement?....I dont really blame the woman for having a go at her especially as she possibly didnt see her coming until the last minute.
It does seem a bit severe...although her actions clearly caused her death but the woman should not have been cycling on the pavement as it seemed quite narrow and difficult for the pedestrians to pass...

[Crimson Dynamo]

For me the fault lies fairly and squarely on the local council for allowing fsst moving cyclists on a 5 foot wide path with pedestrians on a busy through road. Its negligence writ large.

[Quantum Boy]

Wait... She didn't physically touch her? She just aggressively shouted at her to move, and the lady got a fright and went/fell onto the road without looking?

Absolutely bizarre decision. Yes it's a bit rude but I can't get my head around this being anything other than a tragic accident.

[Quantum Boy]

And I agree that cyclists shouldn't be on the pavement unless it's clearly split into a pedestrian lane and a cycle lane. So yeah either the cyclists are breaking the law by using it, OR it's been signposted as for cyclists and pedestrians by the council but isn't suitable.

There are plenty of (off the road) cycle tracks around here that are for both bikes and pedestrians but they're ALL signposted saying that cyclists should be aware of and slow down for pedestrians. I've never seen anything to suggest that a pedestrian could be at fault for causing a cyclist to fall off their bike by shouting. If they pushed them or jumped into their path or something then that would be different.

[bots]

Originally Posted by Soldier Boy

And I agree that cyclists shouldn't be on the pavement unless it's clearly split into a pedestrian lane and a cycle lane. So yeah either the cyclists are breaking the law by using it, OR it's been signposted as for cyclists and pedestrians by the council but isn't suitable.

There are plenty of (off the road) cycle tracks around here that are for both bikes and pedestrians but they're ALL signposted saying that cyclists should be aware of and slow down for pedestrians. I've never seen anything to suggest that a pedestrian could be at fault for causing a cyclist to fall off their bike by shouting. If they pushed them or jumped into their path or something then that would be different.

i think it was the fact she sauntered off to Sainsbury that got her jailed, isn't that the same as fleeing the scene of an accident?

[arista]

Originally Posted by Soldier Boy

Wait... She didn't physically touch her? She just aggressively shouted at her to move, and the lady got a fright and went/fell onto the road without looking?

Absolutely bizarre decision. Yes it's a bit rude but I can't get my head around this being anything other than a tragic accident.

The Judge has No Notes on the Angry Ladies
mental health state.

So when she went onto get her shopping
that is typical of an Angry Autistic person


She had no medical specialist in court.


So the Judge viewed it
as it went down.
He sent her to Jail

[Crimson Dynamo]

Originally Posted by bitontheslide

i think it was the fact she sauntered off to sainsbury that got her jailed, isn't that the same as fleeing the scene of an accident?

she may not have taken the view she caused the accident, its not like she pushed her. Angry gesticulation isnt a crime?

[bots]

doesn't matter what her view is, you don't leave the scene unless you are a pretty cold hearted b'stard

[Crimson Dynamo]

Originally Posted by bitontheslide

doesn't matter what her view is, you don't leave the scene unless you are a pretty cold hearted b'stard

she is autistic so i doubt she felt any concern