YESTERDAY we questioned whether our judges were showing consistency in their decisions to jail a suicidal man for illegally holding firearms while letting a woman walk free after killing a mother and child while driving dangerously.
We felt that there was a lack of recognition that two people died in this crash. And today Richard Gipps, a grieving partner and father, echoes those words.
Much like Dr Gipps, we do not view this as demanding a 72-year-old woman is condemned to a cell.
But Judge Mary Jane Mowat should reflect on Dr Gipps’ comments that to him it felt like only the impact on the surviving relatives of Ellie Bongers and Joseph Gipps were taken into consideration — not, crucially, that these two people lost their lives.
It is correct for judges to assess the impact on surviving relatives for they are the ones who will grieve and will be the ones who (hopefully) will see justice done.
But the court only adds to the distress of those relatives if they feel the actual loss of life is a secondary consideration. The subliminal message is perhaps their lives did not mean that much to the professionals working within our judicial system.
Dr Gipps has bravely and eloquently detailed this in today’s Oxford Mail. We hope our judges read and take note, while Dr Gipps and the families rebuild their lives as best they can.
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