IT'S not often that I feel moved enough to put pen to paper on issues I read about in the newspaper. But after reading about young Natalie Jones and then the 'not guilty' verdict delivered on driver Paul Madeley, I am left in a state of utter disbelief and dismay.
With the amount of factual evidence that appeared to be weighted against this defendant, I now have difficulty imagining how a successful prosecution could ever be brought in a similar case.
Hence, the obvious point: how can we expect people to pay any attention to the Government's "Kill your speed, not a child" campaign?
I feel for the family of Natalie, especially so in the light of the jury's verdict in this case. In my view, they have been horribly let down by a 'justice system' that has made a mockery of all the Government's efforts to slow irresponsible drivers.
If the courts and government think that a guilty conscience is enough to slow drivers, I'm afraid they will find they are sadly mistaken. Meanwhile, many more innocents like Natalie will be killed on our roads.
JONATHAN SIMMONS
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