Families outraged over hit-and-run killer's sentence

Key points

• Hit and run driver who killed three sentenced to 11 years

• Anger felt over leniency of sentence

• Drink and drug cocktail contributed to deadly crash

Key quote

"I feel it is disgraceful that it is only 11 years. He has taken my son’s life, but he will be walking around the same streets as my daughters in a few years." - Andrew Sneddon, father of one of the victims

Story in full A MOTORIST who killed a woman and two children in a Sunday morning hit-and-run accident, was jailed for 11 years yesterday.

Dean Martin, 23, had been "out of it" on drink and drugs, and the father of one of his young victims criticised the sentence as an insult, saying he felt let down by the justice system.

"There is no way he has got his just deserts," said Andrew Sneddon, 28, who had seen Martin staggering from a damaged car before learning seconds later that his son, Ross, five, had been knocked down nearby and killed.

"I feel it is disgraceful that it is only 11 years. He has taken my son’s life, but he will be walking around the same streets as my daughters in a few years," said Mr Sneddon. "I know the judge’s hands are tied by directives, but this is just not enough. The justice system has let me down. It has let Ross down. It has let the families down.

"I had set my sights low, but I didn’t imagine he would get such an insulting sentence. It sends the message that you can mow as many people as you want down, and only get 11 years. I think it should have been that for each life he took. This sentence puts that small a price on people’s lives."

Martin admitted the culpable homicide of Anne Marie Martin, 39, (no relation), her daughter Ashley, eight, and Ross Sneddon, five, in Minto Crescent, Glenrothes, Fife, on 15 February this year.

Martin had been drinking heavily the previous night at his mother’s home in Greenlaw Crescent, Glenrothes. He stole her Vauxhall Vectra car and drove to his sister’s workplace. She approached the car and saw Martin was "out of it", and told him he should not be driving. He replied: "It’s cool." But he refused to hand over the keys.

The sister’s boss managed to take the keys and he drove Martin back to his mother’s home. On the way, Martin admitted that he had taken ecstasy tablets. His sister put the car keys into a box and placed it in a kitchen cupboard; then she and her boss left Martin in the house.

A short time later, Martin, who was driving once again, arrived at a friend’s home. The friend told him he should not be driving, and agreed to accompany Martin to make sure he returned the car. Martin continued to drive, however, and he "screeched to a halt" to pick up a second acquaintance he had seen in the street.

"He drove off at great speed and he has been described as having the accelerator pedal right to the floor," said the advocate-depute, Bernard Ablett.

His driving was "horrendous" and both men shouted at him to stop.

"Despite the almost hysterical requests, he failed to reduce his speed," added Mr Ablett.

A number of pedestrians, who had been at a disco-dance class in a nearby school, were walking along the pavement.

The car approached, and Anne Marie Martin was heard to comment that it was "going awfully fast". It mounted the pavement and struck the group at a speed between 61 and 75mph.

Witnesses rushed to help, but Mr Ablett said it was clear that nothing could be done for Ms Martin, her daughter, and Ross Sneddon. The boy’s mother, Michelle Sneddon, 28, and his sister, Lyta, whose second birthday was the next day, were both injured.

Martin eventually stopped the car and his passengers ran back to the scene. He went to a friend’s home and said he had just knocked down a woman and was "worried about what his mother would say regarding the car".

The defence counsel, Edgar Prais, QC, said Martin accepted that his offences were "unconscionable, unforgiveable and inexcusable". Mr Prais revealed that Martin had used a razor blade to slash his arms in the immediate aftermath of the accident.

He had told police that he deserved whatever was coming to him, and added: "Nothing I can say is going to make it any better. I would rather die than know I killed two children."

Mr Prais said his client was deeply depressed and remorseful, and clearly shattered by what had happened. Like the families of the victims, he would have to live his whole life in the shadow of his horrendous misdeed.

"His is a debt to society that can never be met in full," added Mr Prais.

Mr Prais said Martin came from a broken home and had been in a relationship for seven years with a woman ten years his senior. She had three children, and the couple had a child, aged three.

"Whether he deserves it or not, he continues to enjoy the support of his mother and sister, and his partner," Mr Prais told the court.

Martin had had a good work record until about eight months before the accident when he lost his job and could not find alternative employment. He had felt demeaned at not being able to support his family, and became depressed. One of his "coping strategies" was to drink to excess.

"In the last six months of 2003, he attempted suicide on a number of occasions," said Mr Prais.

Lord Brodie said Martin’s crimes had been described correctly as awful and tragic, and a lengthy sentence was merited.

He said that under guidance from the Court of Appeal, a discount would be given as Martin had pleaded guilty, dropping the prison term from 13 to 11 years.

He banned Martin from driving for life.