A speeding driver who hit and killed a 16-year-old cycling home from school has today been jailed for five years and disqualified from driving for 12 years and six months.

Sami Ula Jabbar, who had a previous conviction for careless driving and was on bail at the time of the crash, heard his sentence at the High Court in Glasgow after admitting to causing death by dangerous driving.

The court heard that the 29-year-old was driving his Mercedes at around 80mph (link is external) before he hit Harley Smith as the teenager cycled home from school.

CCTV footage from the incident on the dark and foggy evening of 6 November 2020 showed the motorist speeding through residential streets in Laurieston, Falkirk, well in excess of the 30mph limit, while one witness reported telling her husband the driver was "going to kill someone" just moments before the fatal collision.

Smith, a pupil at St Mungo's High School, was struck on Polmont Road just before 9pm and died from a fatal head injury at the scene. Prosecuting, Alex Prentice QC reported a witness had seen "the car screeching to a halt. A person being propelled into the air to the height of what seemed like the top of the lamp post."

"You drove at 80mph — a speed which is breathtaking," Judge Lord Mulholland told him. "If you had driven at a safe speed this tragedy would not have happened. Harley Smith would be alive today realising his full potential. It is clear he was a fine young man loved by many."

Jabbar told police the cyclist was wearing dark clothing and had come "out of nowhere".

"I never seen him and then...boom. He came right on top of the windscreen," he continued.

As the driver was led from court, some family and friends of Smith reacted angrily to Jabbar. The Daily Record (link is external) reports a shout of "I hope you rot. He was 16 years old. You stole him" was heard, while someone else shouted: "Look what you have done to us."

David Green, Scotland's Procurator Fiscal for homicide and major crime, concluded: "The reckless and dangerous driving of Sami Ula Jabbar has had the most devastating effect on many lives.

"It robbed young Harley Smith of his promising future and left his loving family bereft. The consequences of dangerous driving cannot be overstated, as this case demonstrates so tragically.

"Our Road Traffic Investigation Unit is committed to prosecuting these crimes at the highest level."

https://road.cc/content/news/speeding-driver-who-killed-schoolboy-jailed-five-years-295271

hirsute | 6072 posts | 2 hours ago
5 likes

"The court heard he has previous convictions, including for careless driving and had been freed under two bail orders from Falkirk Sheriff Court at the time of the crash."

We need a review of traffic laws and penalties before wasting resources on death by cyclists laws.

swldx...@gmail.com <swldxer1958@gmail.com> wrote:

> hirsute | 6072 posts | 2 hours ago
> 5 likes

> "The court heard he has previous convictions, including for careless
> driving and had been freed under two bail orders from Falkirk Sheriff
> Court at the time of the crash."

> We need a review of traffic laws and penalties before wasting resources
> on death by cyclists laws.

We have thousands of traffic laws, with penalties ranging from the minor to
the severe. Similarly we need to bring cyclists in to that too. Let there
be no more Kingslands.

--
Spike

On 16/08/2022 08:24 pm, swldx...@gmail.com wrote:
> hirsute | 6072 posts | 2 hours ago
> 5 likes
>
> "The court heard he has previous convictions, including for careless driving and had been freed under two bail orders from Falkirk Sheriff Court at the time of the crash."
>
> We need a review of traffic laws and penalties before wasting resources on death by cyclists laws.

No, we do not.

We need to hold all fairy-cyclists responsible for their crimes.

OldRidgeback wrote:

Should this person ever be allowed to drive again? He had committed previous offences. This one was horrible. I cannot imagine how the family of the lad feel.

Banned for fewer years than poor Harley had been on earth. An absolute disgrace.

QUITE.

JNugent <jennings&co@fastmail.fm> wrote:
> On 16/08/2022 08:24 pm, swldx...@gmail.com wrote

>> hirsute | 6072 posts | 2 hours ago
>> 5 likes

>> "The court heard he has previous convictions, including for careless
>> driving and had been freed under two bail orders from Falkirk Sheriff
>> Court at the time of the crash."

>> We need a review of traffic laws and penalties before wasting resources
>> on death by cyclists laws.

> No, we do not.

> We need to hold all fairy-cyclists responsible for their crimes.

Well said.

--
Spike

steaders1 | 28 posts | 18 hours ago
11 likes

Simply not enough

When will the courts finally start passing sentences that really set an example and are a proper deterrent?

swldx...@gmail.com <swldxer1958@gmail.com> wrote:
> OldRidgeback wrote:

> Should this person ever be allowed to drive again? He had committed
> previous offences. This one was horrible. I cannot imagine how the family of the lad feel.

> Banned for fewer years than poor Harley had been on earth. An absolute disgrace.

> QUITE.

Rhiannon’s family may well have similar feelings, except that there was no
jail time at all for her killer, merely a fine.

--
Spike

On Wednesday, August 17, 2022 at 2:18:44 PM UTC+1, swldx...@gmail.com wrote:
> steaders1 | 28 posts | 18 hours ago
> 11 likes
>
> Simply not enough
>
> When will the courts finally start passing sentences that really set an example and are a proper deterrent?

The new Highway Code is a good start.

swldx...@gmail.com <swldxer1958@gmail.com> wrote:

> On Wednesday, August 17, 2022 at 2:18:44 PM UTC+1, swldx...@gmail.com wrote:
>> steaders1 | 28 posts | 18 hours ago
>> 11 likes

>> Simply not enough

>> When will the courts finally start passing sentences that really set an
>> example and are a proper deterrent?

> The new Highway Code is a good start.
Cyclists need to read the parts concerning…cyclists…

--
Spike

On Tuesday, 16 August 2022 at 17:03:07 UTC+1, swldx...@gmail.com wrote:
QUOTE: A speeding driver who hit and killed a 16-year-old cycling home from school has today been jailed for five years and disqualified from driving for 12 years and six months. ENDS

Nearly a 20 years ban then - good.

Simon Mason <swldxer2022@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Tuesday, 16 August 2022 at 17:03:07 UTC+1, swldx...@gmail.com wrote:

> QUOTE: A speeding driver who hit and killed a 16-year-old cycling home
> from school has today been jailed for five years and disqualified from
> driving for 12 years and six months. ENDS

> Nearly a 20 years ban then - good.

Have you any idea what Rumanian driving licence can be bought for?

--
Spike

QUOTE: "Our Road Traffic Investigation Unit is committed to prosecuting these crimes at the highest level." ENDS

A 20 year driving ban is indeed a serious punishment.

swldx...@gmail.com <swldxer1958@gmail.com> wrote:

> QUOTE: "Our Road Traffic Investigation Unit is committed to prosecuting
> these crimes at the highest level." ENDS

> A 20 year driving ban is indeed a serious punishment.
Of course, M’lud.

--
Spike

QUOTE: Sami Ula Jabbar, who had a previous conviction for careless driving and was on bail at the time of the crash, heard his sentence at the High Court in Glasgow after admitting to causing death by dangerous driving. ENDS

Yes - the courts take a very dim view of drivers who kill while out on bail.

swldx...@gmail.com <swldxer1958@gmail.com> wrote:

> QUOTE: Sami Ula Jabbar, who had a previous conviction for careless
> driving and was on bail at the time of the crash, heard his sentence at
> the High Court in Glasgow after admitting to causing death by dangerous driving. ENDS

> Yes - the courts take a very dim view of drivers who kill while out on bail.

Of course, M’lud.

--
Spike

QUOTE: Lord Mulholland said: "Cyclists are as much entitled to use the roads, the Queen's highway, as motorists and they are entitled to feel safe and be safe.ENDS

WE NEED MORE JUDGES LIKE THIS.

swldx...@gmail.com <swldxer1958@gmail.com> wrote:

> QUOTE: Lord Mulholland said: "Cyclists are as much entitled to use the
> roads, the Queen's highway, as motorists and they are entitled to feel
> safe and be safe.ENDS

> WE NEED MORE JUDGES LIKE THIS.

With your extensive knowledge and experience of the law, have you thought
of applying to be an LJ?

You could mention that you would model yourself on the style George
Jeffreys, 1st Baron Jeffreys, PC (15 May 1645 – 18 April 1689).

--
Spike

QUOTE: CCTV footage from the incident on the dark and foggy evening of 6 November 2020 showed the motorist speeding through residential streets in Laurieston, Falkirk, well in excess of the 30mph limit. ENDS

FOGGY AND DARK?
What a total pillock - go to jail.

swldx...@gmail.com <swldxer1958@gmail.com> wrote:

> QUOTE: CCTV footage from the incident on the dark and foggy evening of 6
> November 2020 showed the motorist speeding through residential streets in
> Laurieston, Falkirk, well in excess of the 30mph limit. ENDS

> FOGGY AND DARK?
> What a total pillock - go to jail.

Of course, M’lud.

--
Spike

QUOTE : Jabbar told police the cyclist was wearing dark clothing and had come "out of nowhere". ENDS

So you could easily see what he was wearing AND the manner of his appearance on the scene?