A speeding Audi driver who caused a taxi driver's death has been slammed for trying to shift the blame onto his victim. Krishan Patel, 24, was doing more than twice the speed limit on Trafford Road, in Ordsall, Salford, when he hit a Renault Megane in 2020.
The Megane's driver, William Welsh, 46, suffered multiple injuries and died two days later. Patel was convicted by a jury of causing death by dangerous driving following a trial at Manchester Crown Court. He has now been jailed for four-and-a-half years.
The court heard Mr Welsh was sitting on top of his fastened seatbelt at the time of the crash - and Patel's lawyer tried to claim that Mr Welsh contributed 'significantly to both the collision and the death'.
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But the judge in the case rubbished those claims, telling the defendant: "I wonder, if a child had run into the road, would you have sought to blame them as you blamed Mr Welsh? It is tragic he was not wearing a seatbelt, not that that killed him - it was the collision at speed that killed him."
Prosecuting, Brian Berlyne earlier said that just after 9am on September 10, 2020, Mr Welsh was driving with no passengers along the duel carriageway, which has a 30mph limit.
He moved into a filer lane to turn right onto Phoebe Street. "As Mr Welsh began to approach the junction, danger was approaching from the opposite direction," Mr said added.
As Patel approached the junction, Mr Welsh appeared in the opposite direction, preparing to turn right. "Mr Welsh began to make that right turn and [Patel] was driving so fast he was unable to stop on time. Mr Patel collided with Mr Welsh’s vehicle," Mr Berlyne said.
Mr Welsh was thrown from the car into the road. Patel, who was initially trapped in his car, was able to get out. He stayed at the scene.
PC Paul Terry, a forensic collision investigator, concluded Patel was driving at 65mph - more than twice the speed limit. There were no mechanical faults with either vehicle, he said. Mr Welsh's seatbelt was fastened, but he was sitting on top of it at the time, the court heard.
In a statement read to the court, Mr Welsh's partner Rachel Palmer wrote: "My babe. That's what we called each other.
"Our daughters, Logan and Chloe, were ready to leave home and start a new chapter in their lives. Myself and William were so proud. This meant it was our time to start a chapter we were both looking forward to - growing older with each other.
"William was only 46, and had lots to look forward to. He went to work as normal and as a result of Krishan Patel, he never came home.
"He always said it was a skill to drive 30mph. Idiotic people drive too fast, William paid the price and he never came home."
Daughter Logan said she had 'not been [herself] since the collision'. Daughter Chloe said Mr Welsh was 'the best dad anyone could ask for'. She added: "While he [Patel] can carry on with the rest of his life, showing no remorse and putting us all through this trauma, we can only hope justice will be served for taking our dad away from us."
Mr Welsh's sister Jane Welsh said: "I'm just so thankful that William didn't have any passengers in his car. The only thought that has kept me sane for the last 33 months is that all actions have consequences, and I hope the judicial system does take into account Krishan Patel's inability to accept blame.
"To the world, William was a 46-year-old taxi driver. To his life partner, he is the love of her life and the person she should be growing old with. To their daughters he was their protector, advisor, friend and cash man when they needed a little extra.
"It's devastating that he will not see them grow and experience life, not be able to walk them down the aisle or have children. To our mum and dad, he was their baby brother who helped complete the family.
"To his friends, colleagues and customers, and those in Salford who knew him, he was 'Welshy' - the friendly, cheeky, gentle giant. To the rest of his family, he was simply our world."
Patel has no previous convictions on his record.
Mitigating, David Birrell accepted his client was driving at 'greatly excessive speed', but claimed that because the incident happened during a Covid lockdown, the roads were quieter and the 'risk was reduced'.
"The mitigating factors, in our submission, are that William Walsh did contribute significantly to both the collision and the death," he said. "There was the manoeuvre, and most important, the seatbelt. It is no exaggeration the outcome would have been different.”
In response, Judge Elizabeth Nicholls said: "There wouldn't have needed to be an outcome if the collision hadn't occurred." Mr Birrell added that his client was 'hardworking and studious’' and had to drop out of university as a result.
Sentencing, Judge Nicholls said: "Had you been driving at the correct speed, this collision would not have happened. There are speed limits in place for a reason, so we can avoid collisions such as this.
"I wonder, if a child had run into the road, would you have sought to blame them as you blamed Mr Welsh? It is tragic he was not wearing a seatbelt, not that that killed him - it was the collision at speed that killed him."
Patel, of Stephenson Street, Preston, was jailed for four years and six months. He was banned from driving for seven years and three months.
A change in law, which comes coming into force tomorrow (July 1), means the maximum sentence for causing death by dangerous driving will go up - from 14 years to a life sentence. That maximum sentence applies to offences committed after June 22, 2023.
