Johnston, R. v [2006] NICC 10 (31 March 2006)

Johnston, R. v [2006] NICC 10 (31 March 2006)

The defendant's knowledge of his medical condition and the risk of black-out when smoking, combined with the deaths of two children and injury to a third, placed the case in the intermediate culpability category, justifying a sentence of five years' imprisonment and ten years' disqualification from driving.

Citation
[2006] NICC 10
Parties
Prosecution: The Queen; Defendant: Wayne Johnston
Jurisdiction
Northern Ireland
Judgment Date
31 March 2006
Procedural Posture
Criminal / Sentencing After Jury Conviction
Outcome
convicted and sentenced
Legal Topics
Dangerous Driving, Causing Death by Dangerous Driving, Sentencing Guidelines, Aggravating and Mitigating Factors

Case Brief

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Parties

The Queen

Prosecution

Wayne Johnston

Defendant

Procedural Posture

Criminal / Sentencing After Jury Conviction

  1. 1 Appropriate sentence for causing death by dangerous driving where defendant was aware of medical risk
  2. 2 Application of aggravating and mitigating factors in sentencing for dangerous driving causing death

Ratio Decidendi

The defendant's knowledge of his medical condition and the risk of black-out when smoking, combined with the deaths of two children and injury to a third, placed the case in the intermediate culpability category, justifying a sentence of five years' imprisonment and ten years' disqualification from driving.

Court Disposition

convicted and sentenced

Orders

  • Five years' imprisonment on each count, sentences to run concurrently
  • Disqualification from driving for ten years on each count, concurrent