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19/01/2011
Liverpool 'Death Driver' Jailed
A judge has told a convicted killer driver in Liverpool that his only mitigating factor in deciding sentencing was the "good fortune" that the death of an innocent Co Tyrone student was the only such tragedy.
He said: "The only aggravating factor that doesn't apply to your case is the death of more than one person or injury to other people.
"That was an element of good fortune rather than any other factor," he said
The so-called joyrider killed the NI student while attempting to elude police while in a stolen car in Liverpool and was this week jailed for nine-and-a-half years.
David Gaskell, 21, from Everton, hit Andrew O'Neill while driving an Audi Q5 on Dale Street on 27 November.
The 20-year-old from Co Tyrone, who was a student at Liverpool John Moores University, died of multiple injuries.
Gaskell was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court after admitting causing death by dangerous driving.
The court was shown CCTV footage of officers surrounding the car and trying to smash through its windows with batons.
But Gaskell drove the car over a pavement, missing two pedestrians, before driving off at speeds of up to 50mph the wrong way down a one-way street and then struck a taxi before driving into Mr O'Neill - carrying him on the bonnet for about 131ft - and then fleeing the scene.
Gaskell, who also pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicle taking and driving whilst disqualified, left the car and ran onto a flyover, where he fell about 20ft to the ground, breaking his leg.
Sentencing Gaskell and Gandy, Recorder of Liverpool Judge Henry Globe QC said: "In all, your case is almost as bad as any case could be."
(BMcC/GK)
He said: "The only aggravating factor that doesn't apply to your case is the death of more than one person or injury to other people.
"That was an element of good fortune rather than any other factor," he said
The so-called joyrider killed the NI student while attempting to elude police while in a stolen car in Liverpool and was this week jailed for nine-and-a-half years.
David Gaskell, 21, from Everton, hit Andrew O'Neill while driving an Audi Q5 on Dale Street on 27 November.
The 20-year-old from Co Tyrone, who was a student at Liverpool John Moores University, died of multiple injuries.
Gaskell was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court after admitting causing death by dangerous driving.
The court was shown CCTV footage of officers surrounding the car and trying to smash through its windows with batons.
But Gaskell drove the car over a pavement, missing two pedestrians, before driving off at speeds of up to 50mph the wrong way down a one-way street and then struck a taxi before driving into Mr O'Neill - carrying him on the bonnet for about 131ft - and then fleeing the scene.
Gaskell, who also pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicle taking and driving whilst disqualified, left the car and ran onto a flyover, where he fell about 20ft to the ground, breaking his leg.
Sentencing Gaskell and Gandy, Recorder of Liverpool Judge Henry Globe QC said: "In all, your case is almost as bad as any case could be."
(BMcC/GK)
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