Man Jailed Over Festival Hit And Run
24 February 2011, 10:17 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50
A man has been given 4 years in prison for killing a teenager in a hit and run outside Isle of Wight's Bestival event.
Henry Minns, aged 19, from Cornwall was walking along Mersley Down Road near Newport with a friend last September. They were hit by a silver Ford Focus. Henry was killed and his friend, a 20 year old woman, was badly hurt.
The car was being driven by 33 year old James Daniel Slater, from Worthing in West Sussex.
At Portsmouth Crown Court, Judge Ian Pearson sentenced him, to four years in prison after he pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving whilst over the drink drive limit.
Mr Slater failed to stop at the scene of the collision, continuing to drive towards
Ryde. He was then tracked by police and found hiding under a hedge approximately 400 metres away by a police dog.
Despite attempts by several people, including paramedics and police, to resuscitate Mr Minns, he was subsequently pronounced dead at hospital.
Senior Investigating Officer Inspector Martin Goodall of Hampshire Constabulary’s Roads Policing Unit said: “Our thoughts remain with the family of Henry Minns after his life was tragically ended in a collision on our roads.
“This case was a challenge for the police officers and staff from other agencies who had to act with both speed and skill on a main road at night outside one of the year’s biggest and busiest entertainment events.
“Credit must go to PC Martin Norman of the Shanklin Roads Policing Unit who assisted the ambulance crews in attempting to resuscitate Mr Minns, and then performed a crucial role in controlling a chaotic collision scene.
“I would like to thank paramedics, firefighters, Bestival organisers, site staff and members of the public for their assistance during the delicate aftermath of this tragedy.”
