Prison for driver who killed dad (From Thurrock Gazette)
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Prison for driver who killed dad
3:30pm Wednesday 31st October 2012 in News
Shehzad Munir
A SPEEDING driver who killed an “innocent family man” while showing off to his girlfriend has been jailed for seven years.
Shehzad Munir, 25, pictured far right, was driving his 4.5 litre BMW at speeds of up to 150mph, when he ploughed into the back of a Nissan Primera driven by Sukhpreet Singh Chimber, pictured right, in September 2010.
A jury at Snaresbrook Crown Court heard Munir was trying to win back his girlfriend, who was in the car, when he cut across three lanes of the A13 in Rainham and collided with Mr Singh Chimber’s car, hurling it more than 200 metres.
Then impact killed the 30-year-old bus driver from Grays instantly, robbing him of the chance to meet his unborn son, and devastating the lives of his wife Gurpreet and their three young daughters.
Munir, from Plaistow, was found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving and banned from driving for eight years, in addition to his jail term.
Gurpreet Singh Chimber said life has been “horrendous” since her husband’s death.
She added: “He worked extremely hard as a bus driver, regularly doing overtime to ensure we were all adequately provided for.
“I have had to move to Wolverhampton to be closer to my family because I couldn’t cope on my own.”
The couple’s daughters are now aged nine, seven and three, and Mr Singh Chimber’s son, who was born a month after his death, is now two-years-old.
Mrs Singh Chimber said they still cry all the time and “often just won’t speak”.
The widow is hopeful the case will raise awareness of the dangers of speeding.
She said: “I’m pleased justice has been done in the criminal courts, but nothing will bring Sukhpreet back or make any difference to what happened.
“I want Sukhpreet’s death to show the importance of drivers obeying speed limits. They are set for a reason, to protect people.
Detective Sergeant Joe Lock, from the Metropolitan Police’s road death investigation unit, welcomed Munir’s sentence.
He said: “The defendant in this matter drove his vehicle in excess of twice the national speed limit without any consideration for other road users.”
Thurrock Trojan says...
5:23pm Wed 31 Oct 12
In the US a vehicle is treated as a weapon if used inappropriately. It's about time that law was introduced to the UK because it might prompt lunatic drivers to not commit senseless antics like this.