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.
"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."
