Football | Lee Hughes Jailed For 6 Years
Lee Hughes Guilty ~ Lee Hughes Gets 6 Years
West Brom striker Lee Hughes has been found guilty of causing death by wreckless driving and is to serve a 6 year jail sentence.
Lee Hughes was reported to be driving like a madman in his £100,000 5.5 Litre Mercedes Coupe. The collision in Pickford Grange Lane, Coventry, took place on the morning of the 23rd of November 2003.
West Brom unofficial website "The Baggies Boing" reports ::
It was alleged that Hughes had driven "like a madman" leading up to the crash. Motorist Deborah Vallance, not directly involved in the incident, told the court that Hughes rounded a bend "at some speed" on the wrong side of the road before he hit the Renault Scenic and added "The only way I can describe it, to be honest, is that he was driving like a madman. It looked as if it was on the wrong side of the road."Read more about The Trial Of Lee Hughes
She then told the court of a conversation she had with the man who climbed out of the Mercedes: "All I can remember is the driver getting out of the car and putting his hands on his head and bending down and saying: 'I can't believe what has happened, I was only doing 30mph'. I just remember saying: 'There was no way you were doing 30mph'"
Hughes' defence counsel, however, suggested that she had made up the story, because it was not included in her statement to the police. Mrs Vallance answered by saying "You forget things and they come back".
Evidence was also presented regarding the actions of Hughes in the pubs before the incident. One barmaid at the Queen's Head said she served him a double Jack Daniels and Coke, and the licensee also said she had served the same drink but could'nt remember what measure of the whisky was in it.
Gamblog Comment :: I somehow have a little sympathy for Lee Hughes because undoubtedly he never meant it, but indeed that is overshadowed completely for the fella that lost his life through Lee Hughes's actions.
The fact the Lee Hughes left the scene of the accident and never showed his face for something like 3 days would have counted heavily against Lee and pretty much insured no other outcome but a long custodial sentence. Death by wreckless is a serious charge on it's own, let alone leaving the scene of the accident to boot.
Lee Hughes has also had his contract terminated by West Bromwich Albion forthwith.
