THE parents of Violet-Grace Youens are urging judges to use the tougher sentencing guidelines brought in in their daughter’s memory for dangerous drivers that kill.
Yesterday, the Star reported how the case of John Frazer Yates, who killed dad-to-be Chris Smith from St Helens on the M6 in 2022 while driving under the influence, had his sentence increased from eight years and three month to 11 years and three months due to the Court of Appeal.
The appeal was put forward by Chris’ partner Mandy McKechnie and his family, spurred on by Violet-Grace’s Law, a law now giving judges the right to give up to a lifetime jail sentence to those found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving.
Violet-Grace Youens from Eccleston was four when she was struck by a speeding, stolen car on Prescot Road in March 2017.
Her death and the sentences of her killers inspired her parents Glenn and Becky Youens to fight for the previous 15-year maximum sentence for causing death by dangerous driving to be increased to a maximum of life in prison.
This law change, after years of fighting came into place in June 2022, therefore was applicable to Chris Smith’s case.
Talking to the St Helens Star, Mandy McKechnie, partner of Chris Smith, who has since given birth to their son, said she was grateful for the Youens’ fighting for the law change, which was used to strengthen the case for Yates’ sentence to be appealed.
She said: “No sentence could have ever been enough, but I am glad that the justice system has recognised that the given sentence was far too lenient.
“Violet’s law was created to recognise the devastation caused by the loss of life due to dangerous drivers. I am grateful that because of the Youens campaign, I was able to make a successful appeal.
“In causing Chris's death, Yates took away my soul mate, the father of my child, a brother, son, and uncle. His cowardice and lack of remorse only prove that he is exactly where he belongs.
“Every day I tell our son about the daddy he never got to meet. We will love Chris, forever and always.”
In response, Glenn and Becky said: “We are pleased that Violet’s Law has helped Mandy make this appeal but angry for her really that she’s had to appeal in the first place.
“It is for the judges now to implement these laws we and our community fought to be put into place.
“How many more families have to fight for justice when the law is now there to give these drivers longer jail times or sentence them to life behind bars.
“Hopefully the Attorney General and the Court of Appeal making this change will at least highlight to judges that lenient sentences are not good enough and that they need to stand up and impose tougher and longer sentencing on those who have killed others by dangerous driving.
“Yates’ case was a perfect one really for a judge to really utilise these new powers, but instead the Court of Appeal had to up the sentencing.
“It’s no justice that loved ones are taken then their loved ones are having to fight again and again for the law to use the new powers they now have after fighting to have the law there in the first place.
“The more and more these harsher sentences are handed out, then the more of a deterrent it will be for drivers to act badly on the roads.
“We urge the Attorney General and judges to listen to the words of the families, use the law we’ve fought to give you and give out tougher sentences.
“Chris’ son will grow up without his dad. He will still be without his dad when that man is released. The sentence has to match the crime.
“Our hearts go out to Mandy and her son and hope this increase can at least put a stitch in her broken heart.”
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