A judge reduced the sentence of a driver who had left a biker permanently handicapped… because the course of justice had been too slow.

Allow us to run that past you again: the driver, who was driving without a licence, ploughed into a 16-year-old on a small motorbike, leaving him permanently handicapped. The young lad had his girlfriend on the back at the time, who was also injured but who recovered fully. Furthermore, the driver fled the scene of the accident.

The private prosecution lawyer and the provincial Public Prosecutor both recommended stiff sentences; seven and six years respectively, but the judge finally opted for just one year (for causing the accident, as well as fleeing the scene – two separate offences).

The case was sitting at Motril law court for 20 months before the trial was held. Bear in mind that the accident occurred in 2007!

The judge considered that the delay was “unjust” and would be considered as an attenuating factor.

As can be imagined the family of the lad, who is now 21 and in a wheelchair for life, are not happy and will appeal against this ‘light’ sentence.

The incident occurred on the 25th of March, 2007 on the outskirts of Motril in the early hours of the morning. The driver, who was then 32, was speeding, driving too close to the vehicle in front… and had no licence. The result was that the car actually ran over the bike with the girl bouncing off the windscreen.

There were passengers in the car who tried to convince the driver to stop but he decided to speed off and hide the car rather than giving assistance to the injured couple.

(News: Motril, Costa tropical, Granada, Andalucia)