Disabled Woman 50 Jailed for Angerly Waving Cyclist, 77

Find out all about “Disabled Woman 50 Jailed for Angerly Waving Cyclis” Auriol Grey, a 50-year-old woman with cerebral palsy and partial blindness, was convicted of manslaughter for causing the death of an elderly cyclist, Celia Ward, 77, by aggressively waving her off the pavement into the path of a car. This tragic incident occurred in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, in October 2020. Grey was found guilty after a retrial and was sentenced to three years in prison in March 2023. However, Grey has been granted permission to challenge her manslaughter conviction at the Court of Appeal, following a ruling that the jury did not consider the ‘unlawful act’ aspect of the case during her trial.

The incident was captured on CCTV, showing Grey shouting at Mrs. Ward, causing her to wobble into the road and be struck by a VW Passat. Grey denied the charge of unlawful act manslaughter but was convicted after a retrial. The appeal judges have now given her the opportunity to attempt to have the conviction overturned, arguing that the jury’s decision did not adequately consider the ‘unlawful act’ element of the crime.

The case has sparked a significant debate online, with opinions ranging from those who believe Grey should have received a harsher sentence to those who view the situation as a travesty of justice. Grey’s defense argued that Mrs. Ward was traveling fast towards her and that she had been anxious about being hit. However, the judge concluded that Grey’s actions were not explained by her disabilities and that she had given a dishonest account in a police interview.

The full appeal is expected to take place in May, and Grey is also able to apply for bail. This case has had a profound impact on the families involved, with Mrs. Ward’s husband expressing great suffering over her death and her daughter describing the act of violence as incomprehensible. The driver of the car that hit Mrs. Ward, Carla Money, has also been affected, describing Grey’s actions as selfish and leading to post-traumatic stress disorder and the collapse of her marriage.

The incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of being considerate and safe on the roads, with Detective Sergeant Mark Dollard emphasizing that Grey’s response to the presence of a cyclist on a pedal cycle was disproportionate and unlawful, resulting in a needless and senseless death.

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