Crash victim's mother fights for justice
A MOTHER whose son was killed by a hit-and-run driver has vowed to continue her fight for justice for the victims of such accidents.Denise Downing, whose son Marc was struck and killed on holiday a year ago today, told of her grief as she tries to cope with her loss – and pledged to renew her battle to see hit-and-run drivers given much tougher sentences.
A MOTHER whose son was killed by a hit-and-run driver has vowed to continue her fight for justice for the victims of such accidents.
Denise Downing, whose son Marc was struck and killed on holiday a year ago today, told of her grief as she tries to cope with her loss - and pledged to renew her battle to see hit-and-run drivers given much tougher sentences.
Motorist Hayley Matthews fled the scene after the fatal accident in Cornwall, leaving the 22-year-old from Ipswich to die. She gave herself up to police but, despite having no insurance and the car having defective tires, she was fined just £83 at court.
Talking exclusively to the EADT, Ms Downing, 44, said: "She has killed somebody and she's got away with it. I've seen stories about people being fined at least £100 just for having no insurance.
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"I think it's stopping me from moving on. If there is an accident and someone is to blame then they should be punished."
The mother-of-three, formerly of Kitchener Road, Ipswich, organised a petition demanding tougher sentences for hit-and-run drivers and collected more than 2,500 signatures.
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She sent it off to Home Secretary David Blunkett but has yet to receive any sort of reply, which she described as "disgusting".
Ms Downing added: "At the end of the day, it's irrelevant how many signatures there are. The case is that justice must be done, and I don't think hit-and-run drivers will ever stop unless there's a better deterrent.
"Something has got to be done. I wouldn't want anyone else to go through what I've been through and am still going through daily.
"I'm waiting to hear what follow-up I get from the petition and then I'll go from there."
