Courtroom Insanity from Great Britain
Parking killer sentence condemned [UK "justice" alert]
BBC News on line ^ / July 5, 2005 /
The husband of a woman who died after being attacked over a parking space row has condemned the judge's decision not to jail the culprit.
Carol McMillan, of Spey Walk, Holytown, Lanarkshire, admitted the culpable homicide of Ann Whittle, 58, on 15 August last year in Glasgow.
The 34-year-old was given probation and community service.
Norman Whittle said McMillan should have received a five year sentence for causing the death of his wife.
The High Court in Dunfermline heard that McMillan and Mrs Whittle clashed over a space at a car boot sale at Blochairn Road, Glasgow.
'Tragic case'
Co-accused, Charles Freeburn, has had his sentence deferred after he admitted assaulting Mr Whittle.
During the attack, McMillan grabbed Mrs Whittle by the hair and kicked her three times on the head.
Her victim suffered a heart attack, collapsed and later died in hospital. Passing sentence, Lady Dorrian told McMillan: "This is a tragic case in which your irresponsible and unbridled actions led to the death of an innocent woman.
"That is something that you will have to live with for the rest of your life.
"You were not to know that Mrs Whittle suffered from an undiagnosed heart condition which was destabilised by the physical and mental stress caused by your attack on her.
"Your actions were unprovoked and even without the underlying condition this would have been a nasty assault resulting in deep bruising and abrasions."
Lady Dorrian added that she had to take into account that a "blameless woman" lost her life.
However, the judge said she accepted that the behaviour displayed by McMillan was "entirely out of character". Mr Whittle branded the sentence a "disgrace" and said his wife would not harm anyone.
He added: "I don't accept at all that McMillan and Freeburn were sorry."
Mr Whittle paid tribute to his wife of 38 years and spoke of his fond memories of "being married to her and loving one another so much".
Lady Dorrian told Freeburn that it was unacceptable that he had resorted to violence in the course of a trivial argument.
But she said she recognised that he had shown "genuine remorse".
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