Cyclist cleared of manslaughter.

As I understand it the victim was NOT using a mobile phone when she was hit. It was what the cyclist claimed but was shown to be untrue.

I am curious about his background. He claimed to be working as a cycle courier, but all three companies he said he worked for either said he didn't work for them or he worked with them for a very short time, 1 day and 1 week respectively. Yet he was impeccably fashionably dressed and groomed throughout the trial, all the right designer labels and he had a £450 bike. Where did this money come from?

On no evidence at all apart from his appearance and utterly self-absorption and sense of self entitlement, could I suggest parents who never said no and bought him everything he ever wanted?

On the general issue of cyclists and pedestrians, one problem is that cars can be heard approaching but cyclists generally cannot, and even if they have bells they tend not to use them. So on, say a towpath, a pedestrian may step sideways to e.g. avoid a puddle, completely unaware that he/she is moving in front of a fast moving bicycle.

In any space shared with pedestrians, cyclists simply shouldn't be going so fast that they can't overtake pedestrians easily or give warning that they are behind.

Towpaths are towpaths but our cities need cycle lanes that are separate from pedestrians and motor vehicles. Yes, I know that's a big demand but we should be working on it bit by bit.

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Too easy to blame the parents, monica. Speculation is not helpful.

To be found guilty of manslaughter the negligent act needs to be truly gross - "reprehensible" as stated in one case. While his attitude after the event was truly awful, the jury, who heard all the evidence about the accident itself, clearly didn't take the view that his negligence was sufficiently bad to meet this legal test. Exactly why, I've no idea - but as I said, they heard the evidence and we didn't.

I would like to see it go to appeal too loopyloo but doubt it will be.

I have read quite a lot of unpleasant things about this man recently and for the judge to comment that he has shown no remorse only adds fuel to the fact that he should go to jail for the full 2 years (it seems this is the maximum sentence).

It seems he had bragged on social media about being in a movie in which the main character drives recklessly through London traffic only narrowly missing pedestrians. Then he denied it.

Perhaps growing his hair to hide the skull tattoo on his neck , (complete with blood tears, which is said to represent killing someone) from the jury did him a favour although he seemed rather hasty to have his hair cut to "show it off" as soon as the jury retired. He has recently said that he blames Mrs Briggs for the crash and she was lucky (????) not to have killed him or damage his "fixie" bike.
Unbelievable.

So if I remove the brakes from my car then hit a pedestrian crossing the road (because I am unable to brake/stop) should I not guilty of manslaughter?

FWIW according to the DM (not a source I would usually quote, but still..)

"The former courier and scaffolder also said she had been on her phone - but it was proved in court she wasn't."

He was obviously trying to shift the blame onto poor Mrs Briggs and considering the verdict, it worked.

Yes, he *falsely tried to throw the blame not her by claiming, on social media, that she was on her mobile phone.

He is arrogant liar and I hope he gets the maximum 2 year custodial sentence that being found guilty of 'wanton and furious driving' .

I don't think he shifted the blame at all; and the verdict made it clear he was guilty of negligence. Just not sufficiently negligent to count as manslaughter. His tattoo is clearly irrelevant and the comparison with removing car brakes is beyond ridiculous. The problem, if there is one, is that unlike the position with cars, there is no offence sitting in between manslaughter and less serious traffic offences caused by cyclists. Causing death by dangerous driving was introduced specifically because manslaughter involves proving such a high degree of reckless behaviour that convictions were very rare.

Cyclists - I'm told there is some kind of an app whereby cyclists and runners can test their speed as they go. I was also told that can result in such inconsiderate and dangerous behaviour to others that it is no longer available in some areas.
That young man certainly hasn't done himself or the cycling community any favours. I hope Kim Briggs' husband succeeds in his campaign.

He certainly tried to,shift the blame in a vey public and blameworthy manner Fitzy or are you saying he didn't succeed?

Anya I don't think he did succeed in shifting blame. He was found clearly to be the cause of the accident.

I've been knocked down by a cyclist (in a railway station, where he absolutely should not have been cycling!) at full pelt. I was sent flying, he hit me with such force.

Luckily I didn't hit my head but I can imagine that if I had, it would have caused a lot of damage. My poor 6yo daughter was distraught at her mummy lying flat on the ground, covered in blood. It took weeks for my injuries to heal and left permanent scars.

I'm very nervous of cyclists now and wonder if they really understand how much damage they can do.

I hope this case will make them think, Sue, but sadly I suspect most will dismiss it because he was using a specialist bike.

I was in a busy part of London recently when a Lycra clad cyclist, no helmet, with a whistle round his neck, went hurtling round a roundabout and up a busy street he was blowing his whistle to tell everyone to get out of his way, and narrowly missed a group of pedestrians on a zebra crossing ( he had no intention of stopping). I was pleased to see a police officer stop him and give him a talking to. He gave the watching pedestrians the finger salute. Complete arrogant scumbag. Definitely a change in the law needed.

Suzied, the law certainly struggles with regulating cyclists, but exactly what practical changes we need to the law is the question. In terms of the example you give, I'm sure what the cyclist was illegal.

Whistles or bells are no good if someone is deaf, either.

I don't know if this is just a rural problem where I live but cyclists also leave so much litter behind. They just chuck disposable drinks bottles and cans any old where, it looks awful rolling around in the road or stuck in the verges.

On no evidence at all apart from his appearance and utterly self-absorption and sense of self entitlement, could I suggest parents who never said no and bought him everything he ever wanted?
No, speculation is not helpful but one does wonder what he could have been couriering as he did not seem to have a job but plenty of money. I am only wondering btw.

I was also wondering why he had no bell or klaxon attached to his bicycle to alert people that he was heading towards them and was unable to swerve. Presumably she did not step out into moving traffic ie cars and lorries so why did he not swerve out of the way? Perhaps someone else knows the answer.

I do remember walking along in Finland and being unaware when I first arrived that cyclists had right of way on the combined cycle path/pavement - luckily a cyclist coming along at about 30mph rang his very loud bell and I was alerted and able to get out of the way.

Driving along a busy but winding A road recently to visit family we were held up for a long way (miles) by about 12 cyclists riding two abreast and it was absolutely impossible to overtake them . Had they spaced themselves out at least we could have overtaken one at a time when it was safe to do so.

Why?

That young man certainly hasn't done himself or the cycling community any favours. Absolutely Elrel

Jalima I'm not sure but I think he might have swerved left at the last moment, but she may have backed up into him or just stopped herself trying to avoid him. Re your second post, the same thing happened to me recently - but more like 25/30 bikes! As you say, they ought to split up. But, of course, cyclists themselves have a lot to put up with as well. Our roads are simply not designed for the mixture of cars/bikes/lorries etc they now have to cater for.

Jalima what I read was that as he shouted at the lady to get out the way she stepped back but he had already started to swerve and so she kind of stepped into his swerved path if that makes sense He sounds absolutely awful and I hope he gets the full 2 years and is arrogant and mouthy inside jail and gets extra time nasty nasty piece of narcissistic work

Having just been on a speed awareness course (!) we were told that cyclists are now being told to ride two abreast as it's safer for them. However I totally agree with all commentators who condemn that nasty little s...t.

What a very unpleasant young man this is. I pity anyone who has the misfortune to have anything to do with him wither now or in future. Nasty creature.