Woman jailed for Mabli Hall death crash has sentence cut

Woman jailed for Mabli Hall death crash has sentence cut

The sentence for a woman who caused the tragic death of an eight-month-old infant in a car crash has been reduced following an appeal. Bridget Curtis, 71, admitted to causing the death of Mabli Cariad Hall by dangerous driving outside Withybush Hospital in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, in June 2023. Initially, Curtis was sentenced to four years in prison and was banned from driving for eight years at Swansea Crown Court in January. However, after the appeal, three judges decided that the original sentence was “manifestly excessive” and reduced it to three years with a driving ban of seven-and-a-half years.

Mabli’s family expressed their disappointment with the reduction of the sentence but appreciated that the Court of Appeal upheld the conviction and maintained the custodial sentence. They thanked everyone involved in seeking justice for Mabli, emphasizing the tremendous support they have received as a family. Curtis had been at the hospital for an appointment with her daughter and had stopped her BMW outside the building. Tragically, while trying to assist her daughter in the backseat, Curtis accidentally accelerated the car, hitting Mabli, who was in a pram with her father and uncle.

Mabli suffered a severe traumatic brain injury and passed away four days after the incident at Bristol Royal Hospital for Children. Despite having a clean driving record for over 50 years and no prior convictions, Curtis was devastated by the tragic outcome. Her barrister argued at the Court of Appeal that the incident was a result of a “lapse of concentration.” The judges acknowledged the truly tragic nature of the case and noted Curtis’s genuine remorse, expressing sympathy for the family’s devastating loss of their beloved daughter.

Reflecting on the impact of Mabli’s death, her mother Gwen Hall described Mabli as a bright, beautiful, and full of love and life. The loss of her eight-month-old daughter was devastatingly premature, leaving a permanent void in their lives. The reduced sentence was met with mixed emotions from the family, as they continue to come to terms with the heartbreaking loss of their cherished Mabli

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