A man of 87 who killed a woman by hitting his car accelerator instead of the brake has died days after being jailed.
Frail William Heagren is believed to have had a heart attack at Wormwood Scrubs. He died on December 14.
The OAP was jailed for 27 months on December 5 for causing death by dangerous driving.
His Ford Fusion hit Jeanette Newman, 64, and Sarah Taylor, 53, in a Sainsbury’s car park in South Ruislip, West London, in May 2018.
Mrs Newman died in hospital and her friend suffered serious injuries.
Heagren appeared at Harrow Crown Court using a walking frame but Judge Lana Wood refused his plea for bail pending an appeal.
Driver, 87, jailed for killing woman when he mistook car's accelerator for brake
Mum of Costa del Sol triple pool tragedy on way back to UK after hiring lawyer
His barrister Michael Wood called Heagren a “thoroughly decent man” who – according to a GP – faced “a life-threatening illness” if jailed.
On December 5, Mr Wood contested the judge’s decision saying it was an “exceptional case.”
He said: “This man is 87 and the court has before it medical evidence strongly suggesting in the words of a GP that incarceration in a new environment could result in hospital admission for a life threatening illness. That makes this an exceptional case.”
Serial killer Peter Tobin is 'barely eating and now weighs just five stone'
He added: “This is arguably manifestly excessive.”
But the judge said: ”Although the conditions he faces are serious, the GP letter doesn’t amount in itself to exceptional reasons. I’m afraid I’m not so persuaded."
She added: “This was a case that has caused me anxiety I have spent a considerable amount of time considering the sentence.
"It is not a sentence that I give lightly or that I would voluntarily wish to impose. However, in my judgement it is the shortest sentence I can impose.”
Source: Read Full Article